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Romano ME, Gallagher LG, Price G, Crawford KA, Criswell R, Baker E, Botelho JC, Calafat AM, Karagas MR. Plasma per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance mixtures during pregnancy and duration of breastfeeding in the New Hampshire birth cohort study. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 258:114359. [PMID: 38521049 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prior studies suggest that prenatal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposures are associated with shorter breastfeeding duration. Studies assessing PFAS mixtures and populations in North America are sparse. METHODS We quantified PFAS concentrations in maternal plasma collected during pregnancy in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study (2010-2017). Participants completed standardized breastfeeding surveys at regular intervals until weaning (n = 813). We estimated associations between mixtures of 5 PFAS and risk of stopping exclusive breastfeeding before 6 months or any breastfeeding before 12 months using probit Bayesian kernel machine regression. For individual PFAS, we calculated the relative risk and hazard ratio (HR) of stopping breastfeeding using modified Poisson regression and accelerated failure time models respectively. RESULTS PFAS mixtures were associated with stopping exclusive breastfeeding before 6 months, primarily driven by perfluorooctanoate (PFOA). We observed statistically significant trends in the association of perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), PFOA, and perfluorononanoate (PFNA) (p-trends≤0.02) with stopping exclusive breastfeeding. Participants in the highest PFOA quartile had a 28% higher risk of stopping exclusive breastfeeding before 6 months compared to those in the lowest quartile (95% Confidence Interval: 1.04, 1.56). Similar trends were observed for PFHxS and PFNA with exclusive breastfeeding (p-trends≤0.05). PFAS were not associated with stopping any breastfeeding before 12 months. CONCLUSIONS In this cohort, we observed that participants with greater overall plasma PFAS concentrations had greater risk of stopping exclusive breastfeeding before 6 months and associations were driven largely by PFOA. These findings further support the growing literature indicating that PFAS may be associated with shorter duration of breastfeeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E Romano
- Department of Epidemiology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Lebanon, NH, USA.
| | - Lisa G Gallagher
- Department of Epidemiology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - George Price
- Department of Epidemiology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | | | - Rachel Criswell
- Skowhegan Family Medicine, Redington-Fairview General Hospital, Skowhegan, ME, USA
| | - Emily Baker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Julianne Cook Botelho
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Margaret R Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Lebanon, NH, USA
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Heinsberg LW, Niu S, Arslanian KJ, Chen R, Bedi M, Unasa-Apelu F, Fidow UT, Soti-Ulberg C, Conley YP, Weeks DE, Ng CA, Hawley NL. Characterization of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) concentrations in a community-based sample of infants from Samoa. Chemosphere 2024; 353:141527. [PMID: 38401869 PMCID: PMC10997188 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent contaminants with documented harmful health effects. Despite increasing research, little attention has been given to studying PFAS contamination in low- and middle-income countries, including Samoa. Using data and biosamples collected through the Foafoaga o le Ola ("Beginning of Life") Study, which recruited a sample of mothers and infants from Samoa, we conducted an exploratory study to describe concentrations of 40 PFAS analytes in infant cord blood collected at birth (n = 66) and infant dried blood spots (DBS) collected at 4 months post-birth (n = 50). Of the 40 PFAS analytes tested, 19 were detected in cord blood, with 10 detected in >50% of samples (PFBA, PFPeA, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnA, PFTrDA, PFHxS, PFOS, and 9Cl-PF3ONS); and 12 analytes were detected in DBS, with 3 detected in >50% of samples (PFBA, PFHxS, and PFOS). PFAS concentrations were generally lower than those reported in existing literature, with the exception of PFHxS, which was detected at higher concentrations. In cord blood, we noted suggestive (p < 0.05) or significant (p < 0.006) associations between higher PFHxS and male sex; higher PFPeA and residence in Northwest 'Upolu (NWU) compared to the Apia Urban Area (AUA); lower PFUnA and 9Cl-PF3ONS and greater socioeconomic resources; lower PFOA and higher parity; higher PFDA and higher maternal age; and lower PFUnA, PFTrDA, and 9Cl-PF3ONS and higher maternal BMI. In DBS, we found suggestive (p < 0.05) or significant (p < 0.025) associations between lower PFBA and residence in NWU versus AUA; lower PFBA and PFHxS and higher maternal age; and higher PFBA and higher maternal BMI. Finally, we observed associations between nutrition source at 4 months and DBS PFBA and PFHxS, with formula- or mixed-fed infants having higher concentrations compared to exclusively breastfed infants. This study represents the first characterization of PFAS contamination in Samoa. Additional work in larger samples is needed to identify potentially modifiable determinants of PFAS concentrations, information that is critical for informing environmental and health policy measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lacey W Heinsberg
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Shan Niu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Kendall J Arslanian
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Ruiwen Chen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Megha Bedi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Folla Unasa-Apelu
- Obesity, Lifestyle and Genetic Adaptations Study Group, Apia, Samoa.
| | | | | | - Yvette P Conley
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Health Promotion and Development, School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Daniel E Weeks
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Carla A Ng
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Nicola L Hawley
- Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Sigvaldsen A, Højsager FD, Paarup HM, Beck IH, Timmermann CAG, Boye H, Nielsen F, Halldorsson TI, Nielsen C, Möller S, Barington T, Grandjean P, Jensen TK. Early-life exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and serum antibody concentrations towards common childhood vaccines in 18-month-old children in the Odense Child Cohort. Environ Res 2024; 242:117814. [PMID: 38042520 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been associated with reduced antibody response to childhood vaccinations. Previous studies have mostly focused on antibodies against diphtheria or tetanus, while fewer studies have assessed antibodies toward attenuated viruses, such as measles, mumps or rubella (MMR). Therefore, we set out to determine associations between prenatal and early postnatal PFAS exposure and vaccine-specific Immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the background-exposed Odense Child Cohort. Blood samples were drawn in pregnancy at gestation weeks 8-16 and from the offspring at age 18 months. In the maternal serum samples we quantified perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA). In the offspring serum samples we quantified the same five PFAS compounds and IgG towards diphtheria, tetanus and MMR. A total of 880 and 841 children were included in the analyses of diphtheria and tetanus or MMR, respectively. Multiple linear regression models were used for estimation of difference in virus-specific IgG per doubling of PFAS concentrations. Maternal PFAS concentrations were non-significantly inversely associated with most vaccine-specific antibody concentrations. Likewise, child PFAS concentrations were associated with non-significant reductions of antibodies towards tetanus and MMR. A significant reduction in the percent difference in mumps antibody concentration per doubling of child PFNA (-9.2% (95% confidence interval: -17.4;-0.2)), PFHxS (-8.3% (-15.0;-1.0) and PFOS (-7.9% (-14.8;-0.4) was found. These findings are of public health concern, as inadequate response towards childhood vaccines may represent a more general immune dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Sigvaldsen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløwsvej 17A, 5000, Odense, Denmark; Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
| | - Frederik Damsgaard Højsager
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløwsvej 17A, 5000, Odense, Denmark; Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Iben Have Beck
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløwsvej 17A, 5000, Odense, Denmark; Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Henriette Boye
- Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Odense Child Cohort, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Flemming Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløwsvej 17A, 5000, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Christel Nielsen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Sören Möller
- Open Patient data Explorative Network, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Torben Barington
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Immunology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Philippe Grandjean
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløwsvej 17A, 5000, Odense, Denmark; Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Tina Kold Jensen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløwsvej 17A, 5000, Odense, Denmark; Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
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Zell-Baran LM, Dabelea D, Norris JM, Glueck DH, Adgate JL, Brown JM, Harrall KK, Calafat AM, Starling AP. Prenatal Exposure to Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances (2009-2014) and Vaccine Antibody Titers of Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella in Children Four to Eight Years Old from the Healthy Start Cohort. Environ Health Perspect 2023; 131:127018. [PMID: 38147368 PMCID: PMC10750888 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposures to certain poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are associated with reduced humoral responses to some childhood immunizations. OBJECTIVE We estimated associations between prenatal PFAS exposure and child antibody titers for measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), and varicella after immunization. METHODS We measured serum antibody titers of 145 children (4-8 y old) enrolled in the Healthy Start cohort in Colorado, whose mothers had PFAS quantified mid-pregnancy (2009-2014). We used linear and logistic regression models to assess the relationship between five PFAS detected in > 65 % of mothers and continuous or non-high-censored ("low") antibody titers and quantile g-computation to evaluate the overall effect of the PFAS mixture. RESULTS Median concentrations of individual PFAS were at or below the median reported among females in the United States. After receiving two vaccine doses, seropositive levels of antibodies were detected among most (93%-100%) children. Each log-unit increase in perfluorononanoate was associated with 2.09 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13, 3.87] times higher odds of a low measles titer, and each log-unit increase in perfluorooctanoate was associated with 2.46 (95% CI: 1.28, 4.75) times higher odds of a low mumps titer. Odds ratios for all other PFAS were elevated, but CIs included the null. Each quartile increase in the PFAS mixture was associated with 1.35 (95% CI: 0.80, 2.26) times higher odds of a low measles titer and 1.44 (95% CI: 0.78, 2.64) times higher odds of a low mumps titer. No significant associations were observed between PFAS and varicella or rubella antibodies. In stratified analyses, associations were negative among female children, except for perfluorohexane sulfonate and varicella, whereas they were positive among males. DISCUSSION Some prenatal PFAS were associated with lower antibody titers among fully immunized children. The potential for immunotoxic effects of PFAS requires further investigation in a larger study, because exposure is ubiquitous globally. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12863.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M. Zell-Baran
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Dana Dabelea
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Jill M. Norris
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Deborah H. Glueck
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - John L. Adgate
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Jared M. Brown
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Kylie K. Harrall
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Antonia M. Calafat
- National Center for Environmental Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Anne P. Starling
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Højsager FD, Sigvaldsen A, Andersen MS, Juul A, Nielsen F, Möller S, Christesen HBT, Grøntved A, Grandjean P, Jensen TK. Prenatal and early postnatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and bone mineral content and density in the Odense Child Cohort. Environ Int 2023; 181:108264. [PMID: 37864903 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been associated with lower bone mineral density (BMD) in animal and human studies, but prospective data from children are limited. OBJECTIVES To determine associations between prenatal and early postnatal PFAS exposure and BMD at age 7 years. METHODS In the Odense Child Cohort, Denmark, pregnant women were recruited in 2010-2012, and their children were invited for subsequent health examinations. At 12 weeks of gestation the pregnant women delivered a serum sample, and at age 18 months serum was obtained from the child to measure perfluorooctane sulfonic acid(PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) by LC-MS/MS. At age 7 years DXA scans were performed to measure bone mineral content (BMC) and BMD Z-score. PFAS in pregnancy (n = 881) and/or at age 18 months (n = 668) were regressed against DXA measurements, adjusted for maternal education, child height Z-score, sex (for BMC) and for postnatal exposure, additionally duration of total breastfeeding. We additionally performed structural equation models determining combined effects of pre-and postnatal PFAS exposures. RESULTS Higher prenatal and early postnatal serum concentrations of all measured PFAS were associated with lower BMC and BMD Z-scores at age 7 years, all estimates were negative although not all significant. For each doubling of 18-month exposure to PFNA or PFOS, BMD Z-scores were lowered by -0.10 (95 % CI -0.19;-0.00) and -0.08 (-0.17;-0.00), respectively after adjustment. Pre- and postnatal PFAS were correlated, but structural equation models suggested that associations with BMD were stronger for 18-month than prenatal PFAS exposure. DISCUSSION Bone density is established in childhood, and a reduction in BMD during early childhood may have long-term implication for peak bone mass and lifelong bone health. Future studies of the impact of PFAS exposure on fracture incidence will help elucidate the clinical relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederik Damsgaard Højsager
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløwsvej 17A, 5000 Odense, Denmark
| | - Annika Sigvaldsen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløwsvej 17A, 5000 Odense, Denmark.
| | - Marianne Skovsager Andersen
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Odense University, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark
| | - Anders Juul
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Denmark
| | - Flemming Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløwsvej 17A, 5000 Odense, Denmark
| | - Sören Möller
- Odense Patient Data Explorative Network (OPEN), Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Anders Grøntved
- Exercise Epidemiology, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Centre of Research in Childhood Health, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Philippe Grandjean
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløwsvej 17A, 5000 Odense, Denmark; Depertment of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Tina Kold Jensen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløwsvej 17A, 5000 Odense, Denmark; Odense Patient Data Explorative Network (OPEN), Odense, Denmark; Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
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Rokoff LB, Wallenborn JT, Harris MH, Rifas-Shiman SL, Criswell R, Romano ME, Young JG, Calafat AM, Oken E, Sagiv SK, Fleisch AF. Plasma concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in pregnancy and breastfeeding duration in Project Viva. Sci Total Environ 2023; 891:164724. [PMID: 37290653 PMCID: PMC10327962 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may disrupt mammary gland development and function; thereby inhibiting milk supply and breastfeeding duration. However, conclusions on the potential effects of PFAS and breastfeeding duration are limited by prior epidemiologic studies that inconsistently adjusted for past cumulative breastfeeding duration and by a lack of examination of the joint effects of PFAS mixtures. METHODS In Project Viva, a longitudinal cohort that enrolled pregnant participants from 1999 to 2002 in the greater Boston, MA area, we studied 1079 women who ever attempted to lactate. We investigated associations of plasma concentrations of select PFAS in early pregnancy (mean: 10.1 weeks gestation) with breastfeeding termination by 9 months, after which women typically cite self-weaning as the reason for terminating breastfeeding. We used Cox regression for single-PFAS models and quantile g-computation for mixture models, adjusting for sociodemographics, prior breastfeeding duration, and weeks of gestation at the time of blood draw. RESULTS We detected 6 PFAS [perfluorooctane sulfonate; perfluorooctanoate (PFOA); perfluorohexane sulfonate; perfluorononanoate; 2-(N-ethyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido) acetate (EtFOSAA); 2-(N-methyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamide) acetate (MeFOSAA)] in >98 % of samples. Sixty percent of lactating women terminated breastfeeding by 9 months postpartum. Women with higher plasma concentrations of PFOA, EtFOSAA, and MeFOSAA had a greater hazard of terminating breastfeeding in the first 9 months postpartum [HR (95 % CI) per doubling concentration: 1.20 (1.04, 1.38) for PFOA; 1.10 (1.01, 1.20) for EtFOSAA; 1.18 (1.08, 1.30) for MeFOSAA]. In the quantile g-computation model, simultaneously increasing all PFAS in the mixture by one quartile was associated with 1.17 (95 % CI: 1.05, 1.31) greater hazard of terminating breastfeeding in the first 9 months. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that exposure to PFAS may be associated with reduced breastfeeding duration and draw further attention to environmental chemicals that may dysregulate human lactation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa B Rokoff
- Center for Interdisciplinary Population & Health Research, MaineHealth Institute for Research, Portland, ME, USA.
| | - Jordyn T Wallenborn
- Center of Excellence in Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Maria H Harris
- Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health, School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Sheryl L Rifas-Shiman
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rachel Criswell
- Skowhegan Family Medicine, Redington-Fairview General Hospital, Skowhegan, ME, USA
| | - Megan E Romano
- Department of Epidemiology, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Jessica G Young
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Emily Oken
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sharon K Sagiv
- Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health, School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Abby F Fleisch
- Center for Interdisciplinary Population & Health Research, MaineHealth Institute for Research, Portland, ME, USA; Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME, USA
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7
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Beck IH, Bilenberg N, Möller S, Nielsen F, Grandjean P, Højsager FD, Halldorsson TI, Nielsen C, Jensen TK. Association Between Prenatal and Early Postnatal Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances and IQ Score in 7-Year-Old Children From the Odense Child Cohort. Am J Epidemiol 2023; 192:1522-1535. [PMID: 37119029 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwad110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent chemicals capable of crossing the placenta and passing into breast milk. Evidence suggests that PFAS exposure may affect brain development. We investigated whether prenatal or early postnatal PFAS exposure was associated with intelligence quotient (IQ) scores in schoolchildren from the Odense Child Cohort (Denmark, 2010-2020). We assessed concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) in maternal serum collected during the first trimester of pregnancy and in child serum at age 18 months. At 7 years of age, children completed an abbreviated version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition, from which Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) and Verbal Comprehension Index scores were estimated. In multiple linear regression analyses conducted among 967 mother-child pairs, a doubling in maternal PFOS and PFNA concentrations was associated with a lower FSIQ score, while no significant associations were observed for PFOA, PFHxS, or PFDA. PFAS concentrations at age 18 months and duration of breastfeeding were strongly correlated, and even in structural equation models it was not possible to differentiate between the opposite effects of PFAS exposure and duration of breastfeeding on FSIQ. PFAS exposure is ubiquitous; therefore, an association with even a small reduction in IQ is of public health concern.
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Friedman C, Dabelea D, Keil AP, Adgate JL, Glueck DH, Calafat AM, Starling AP. Maternal serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances during pregnancy and breastfeeding duration. Environ Epidemiol 2023; 7:e260. [PMID: 37545807 PMCID: PMC10402953 DOI: 10.1097/ee9.0000000000000260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
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 (2009-2014), 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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe Friedman
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Dana Dabelea
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Alexander P. Keil
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - John L. Adgate
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Deborah H. Glueck
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Antonia M. Calafat
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Anne P. Starling
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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9
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Dangudubiyyam SV, Mishra JS, Kumar S. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid modulates expression of placental steroidogenesis-associated genes and hormone levels in pregnant rats. Reprod Toxicol 2023; 118:108390. [PMID: 37148813 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2023.108390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a widespread and persistent chemical in the environment. Reports show that PFOS is a potential endocrine disruptor; however, the possible effects of PFOS on placental endocrine function are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the endocrine-disrupting effects of PFOS on the placenta in pregnant rats and its potential mechanism. Pregnant rats from gestational days 4-20 were exposed to 0, 10, and 50 μg/mL PFOS through drinking water followed by analysis of various biochemical parameters. PFOS dose-dependently decreased fetal and placental weight in both sexes, with a specific decrease in weight of labyrinth but not junctional layer. Plasma progesterone (↑166%), aldosterone (↑201%), corticosterone (↑205%), testosterone (↑45%), luteinizing hormone (↑49%) levels were significantly increased, while estradiol (↓27%), prolactin (↓28%) and hCG (↓62%) levels were reduced in groups exposed to higher doses of PFOS. Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed a significant increase in mRNA levels of placental steroid biosynthesis enzymes, including Cyp11A1 and 3β-HSD1 in male placenta and StAR, Cyp11A1, 17β-HSD1 and 17β-HSD3 in female placenta of PFOS dams. Cyp19A1 expression in ovaries was significantly decreased in PFOS dams. mRNA levels for placental steroid metabolism enzyme UGT1A1 increased in male but not in female placenta of PFOS dams. These results suggest that the placenta is a target tissue of PFOS and PFOS-induced dysregulation in steroid hormone production might be related to the altered expression of hormone biosynthesis and metabolism enzyme genes in the placenta. This hormone disruption might affect maternal health and fetal growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sri Vidya Dangudubiyyam
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Jay S Mishra
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Sathish Kumar
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53715, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53792, USA.
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10
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Timmermann A, Avenbuan ON, Romano ME, Braun JM, Tolstrup JS, Vandenberg LN, Fenton SE. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Breastfeeding as a Vulnerable Function: A Systematic Review of Epidemiological Studies. Toxics 2023; 11:325. [PMID: 37112552 PMCID: PMC10145877 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11040325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Milk formation in the breast during breastfeeding is a complex hormonally regulated process, potentially sensitive to the effects of endocrine-disrupting chemical exposures. The environmental chemicals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are known endocrine disruptors. PFAS exposure have been associated with insufficient mammary gland development in mice and reduced breastfeeding duration in humans. The aim of this review was to gather the epidemiological evidence on the association between PFAS exposure and breastfeeding duration. Using PubMed and Embase, we performed a systematic literature search (on 23 January 2023) to identify epidemiological studies examining the association between maternal PFAS exposure and breastfeeding duration. Animal studies, reviews, and non-English studies were excluded. The risk of bias was assessed using the risk of bias in non-randomized studies of exposures tool. Estimates describing the association between PFAS exposure and the duration of breastfeeding were identified, and the data were synthesized separately for each type of PFAS and for the duration of exclusive and total breastfeeding. Six studies with between 336 and 2374 participants each were identified. PFAS exposure was assessed in serum samples (five studies) or based on residential address (one study). Five out of six studies found shorter total duration of breastfeeding with higher PFAS exposure. The most consistent associations were seen for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA). The finding of a potential causal association between PFAS exposure and breastfeeding duration is in agreement with findings from experimental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalie Timmermann
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, 1455 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Oyemwenosa N. Avenbuan
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27 599-7325, USA
| | - Megan E. Romano
- Department of Epidemiology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH 03 755, USA
| | - Joseph M. Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02 903, USA
| | - Janne S. Tolstrup
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, 1455 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Laura N. Vandenberg
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01 003, USA
| | - Suzanne E. Fenton
- Mechanistic Toxicology Branch, Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC 27 709, USA
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11
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Blomberg AJ, Haug LS, Lindh C, Sabaredzovic A, Pineda D, Jakobsson K, Nielsen C. Changes in perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) concentrations in human milk over the course of lactation: A study in Ronneby mother-child cohort. Environ Res 2023; 219:115096. [PMID: 36529327 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about how PFAS concentrations in human milk change over the course of lactation, although this is an important determinant of cumulative infant exposure from breastfeeding. OBJECTIVE To estimate changes in PFAS concentrations in human milk over the course of lactation in a population with a wide range of exposure from background-to high-exposed. METHODS We measured PFAS concentrations in colostrum and mature milk samples from women in the Ronneby Mother-Child Cohort. For each PFAS, we estimated the change in concentration from colostrum collected 3-4 days postpartum to mature milk collected 4-12 weeks postpartum using linear mixed-effects models. We evaluated whether this estimated change varied by quartiles of colostrum concentrations. In a subset of mothers with at least three mature milk samples, we estimated the change in concentration per month over the first eight months of lactation. RESULTS Our study included 77 mother-child pairs, of whom 74 had colostrum and initial mature milk samples and 11 had three or more repeated samples. The concentration change from colostrum to mature milk varied by PFAS. While PFOS increased by 21% (95% CI: 8.9, 35), PFOA decreased by 17% (95% CI: -28, -3.5) and PFHxS decreased by 12% (95% CI: -24, 3.3). In addition, PFAS concentrations tended to increase in women with lower colostrum levels, but decreased or remained the same in women with high colostrum concentrations. When we estimated changes over the course of lactation, we found that PFOA concentrations decreased the most (-12% per month; 95% CI: -22, -1.5), whereas PFHxS and PFOS showed small nonsignificant decreases. CONCLUSIONS Models for cumulative infancy exposure from breastfeeding need to account for differences in concentration trajectories by PFAS and possibly by maternal exposure level. Additional research is needed to evaluate the relative exposure from breastfeeding vs prenatal exposure, especially in highly exposed communities where breastfeeding guidance is urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelise J Blomberg
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States.
| | - Line S Haug
- Department of Food Safety, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Christian Lindh
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Daniela Pineda
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kristina Jakobsson
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Christel Nielsen
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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12
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Abstract
Lactation is critical to infant short-term and long-term health and protects mothers from breast cancer, ovarian cancer and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The mammary gland is a dynamic organ, regulated by the coordinated actions of reproductive and metabolic hormones. These hormones promote gland development from puberty onwards and induce the formation of a branched, epithelial, milk-secreting organ by the end of pregnancy. Progesterone withdrawal following placental delivery initiates lactation, which is maintained by increased pituitary secretion of prolactin and oxytocin, and stimulated by infant suckling. After weaning, local cytokine production and decreased prolactin secretion trigger large-scale mammary cell loss, leading to gland involution. Here, we review advances in the molecular endocrinology of mammary gland development and milk synthesis. We discuss the hormonal functions of the mammary gland, including parathyroid hormone-related peptide secretion that stimulates maternal calcium mobilization for milk synthesis. We also consider the hormonal composition of human milk and its associated effects on infant health and development. Finally, we highlight endocrine and metabolic diseases that cause lactation insufficiency, for example, monogenic disorders of prolactin and prolactin receptor mutations, maternal obesity and diabetes mellitus, interventions during labour and delivery, and exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as polyfluoroalkyl substances in consumer products and other oestrogenic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fadil M Hannan
- Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation Oxford Centre for the Endocrinology of Human Lactation, Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Taha Elajnaf
- Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation Oxford Centre for the Endocrinology of Human Lactation, Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Laura N Vandenberg
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Stephen H Kennedy
- Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation Oxford Centre for the Endocrinology of Human Lactation, Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Rajesh V Thakker
- Academic Endocrine Unit, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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13
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Huang Y, Nian M, Yu G, Tian Y, Zhang J, Jiang F, Zhang J. Environmental exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and sleep disturbance in pregnant women: A prospective cohort study. Sci Total Environ 2022; 842:156869. [PMID: 35752248 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies on the association between exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and sleep patterns in pregnant women are limited. This cohort study aims to assess the associations between PFAS and sleep quality in pregnant women. Of the 4127 women who participated in the Shanghai Birth Cohort, 3174, 3070, and 2887 women in their first, second, and third trimesters of gestation, respectively, were included in our analysis. Sleep measures were taken using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire. Ten PFAS were measured in blood samples collected in early pregnancy. We first evaluate the associations between individual PFAS and sleep quality in the three trimesters. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models were performed to test the overall effect of the PFAS mixture on sleep quality during the three trimesters. Longitudinal analyses throughout pregnancy were performed with generalized estimating equation models. Furthermore, the effect of the PFAS mixture on longitudinal sleep patterns was examined using longitudinal latent class analyses combined with WQS models. The single pollutant analysis suggested that most PFAS were associated with increased sleep disturbance risk, lower sleep efficiency, and shorter sleep duration in the three trimesters. Similarly, the WQS models revealed a significant association between the PFAS mixtures and elevated sleep disturbance risk in pregnant women, with perfluorobutane sulfonate acting as the predominant risk factor. Additionally, the longitudinal analysis confirmed the effects of PFAS exposure on increased sleep disturbance over time. The PFAS mixture was positively associated with higher risks of poor sleep quality and sleep medicine use [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.10; 95 % confidence interval (95%CI): 1.01, 1.20; and aOR = 1.25 (95%CI: 1.04, 1.50) respectively] throughout the three trimesters. Our study suggests that PFAS may increase the risk of sleep disturbance in pregnant women. Further studies are needed to confirm our results and elucidate potential mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Huang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Min Nian
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai 200092, China; School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 227 South Chongqing Road, Shanghai 200052, China
| | - Guoqi Yu
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Ying Tian
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai 200092, China; School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 227 South Chongqing Road, Shanghai 200052, China
| | - Jingsong Zhang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai 200092, China; Department of Medical Psychology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Fan Jiang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai 200092, China; Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Pediatric Translational Medicine Institution, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1678 Dongfang Rd, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jun Zhang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai 200092, China; School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 227 South Chongqing Road, Shanghai 200052, China.
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14
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Højsager FD, Andersen M, Juul A, Nielsen F, Möller S, Christensen HT, Grøntved A, Grandjean P, Jensen TK. Prenatal and early postnatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and bone mineral content and density in the Odense child cohort. Environ Int 2022; 167:107417. [PMID: 35914335 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been associated with lower bone mineral density (BMD) in animal and human studies, but prospective data from children are limited. OBJECTIVES To determine associations between prenatal and early postnatal PFAS exposure and BMD at age 7 years. METHODS In the Odense Child Cohort, Denmark, pregnant women were recruited in 2010-2012, and their children were invited for subsequent health examinations. At 12 weeks of gestation the pregnant women delivered a serum sample, and at age 18 months serum was obtained from the child to measure perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) by LC-MS/MS. At age 7 years DXA scans were performed to measure bone mineral content (BMC) and BMD Z-score. PFAS in pregnancy (n = 924) and/or at age 18 months (n = 511) were regressed against DXA measurements, adjusted for maternal education, child height Z-score, sex (for BMC) and for postnatal exposure, additionally duration of total breastfeeding. We additionally performed structural equation models determining combined effects of pre-and postnatal PFAS exposures. RESULTS Higher prenatal and early postnatal serum concentrations of all measured PFAS were associated with lower BMC and BMD Z-scores at age 7 years, all estimates were negative although not all significant. For each doubling of prenatal or 18-month exposure to PFDA, BMD Z-scores were lowered by -0.07 (95 % CI -0.10; -0.03) and -0.14 (-0.25; -0.03), respectively after adjustment. Pre- and postnatal PFAS were correlated, but structural equation models suggested that associations with BMD were stronger for 18-month than prenatal PFAS exposure. DISCUSSION Bone density is established in childhood, and a reduction in BMD during early childhood may have long-term implication for peak bone mass and lifelong bone health. Future studies of the impact of PFAS exposure on fracture incidence will help elucidate the clinical relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- F D Højsager
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløwsvej 17A, 5000 Odense, Denmark.
| | - M Andersen
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Odense University, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark
| | - A Juul
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Denmark
| | - F Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløwsvej 17A, 5000 Odense, Denmark
| | - S Möller
- Odense Patient data Explorative Network (OPEN), Odense, Denmark
| | - H T Christensen
- Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - A Grøntved
- Exercise Epidemiology, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Centre of Research in Childhood Health, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - P Grandjean
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløwsvej 17A, 5000 Odense, Denmark; Depertment of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - T K Jensen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløwsvej 17A, 5000 Odense, Denmark; Odense Patient data Explorative Network (OPEN), Odense, Denmark; Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
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15
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Ducatman A, LaPier J, Fuoco R, DeWitt JC. Official health communications are failing PFAS-contaminated communities. Environ Health 2022; 21:51. [PMID: 35538533 PMCID: PMC9092686 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-022-00857-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Environmental health agencies are critical sources of information for communities affected by chemical contamination. Impacted residents and their healthcare providers often turn to federal and state agency webpages, fact sheets, and other documents to weigh exposure risks and interventions. MAIN BODY This commentary briefly reviews scientific evidence concerning per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for health outcomes that concern members of affected communities and that have compelling or substantial yet differing degree of scientific evidence. It then features official documents in their own language to illustrate communication gaps, as well as divergence from scientific evidence and from best health communication practice. We found official health communications mostly do not distinguish between the needs of heavily contaminated communities characterized by high body burdens and the larger population with ubiquitous but substantially smaller exposures. Most health communications do not distinguish levels of evidence for health outcomes and overemphasize uncertainty, dismissing legitimate reasons for concern in affected communities. Critically, few emphasize helpful approaches to interventions. We also provide examples that can be templates for improvement. CONCLUSIONS Immediate action should be undertaken to review and improve official health communications intended to inform the public and health providers about the risks of PFAS exposure and guide community and medical decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Ducatman
- School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.
| | - Jonas LaPier
- Green Science Policy Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - Jamie C DeWitt
- Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
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16
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Megan E Romano
- Department of Epidemiology, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
- Correspondence: Megan E. Romano, Department of Epidemiology, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, One Medical Center Drive, Hinman Box 7927, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA.
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17
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Rickard BP, Rizvi I, Fenton SE. Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and female reproductive outcomes: PFAS elimination, endocrine-mediated effects, and disease. Toxicology 2022; 465:153031. [PMID: 34774661 PMCID: PMC8743032 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.153031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread environmental contaminants frequently detected in drinking water supplies worldwide that have been linked to a variety of adverse reproductive health outcomes in women. Compared to men, reproductive health effects in women are generally understudied while global trends in female reproduction rates are declining. Many factors may contribute to the observed decline in female reproduction, one of which is environmental contaminant exposure. PFAS have been used in home, food storage, personal care and industrial products for decades. Despite the phase-out of some legacy PFAS due to their environmental persistence and adverse health effects, alternative, short-chain and legacy PFAS mixtures will continue to pollute water and air and adversely influence women's health. Studies have shown that both long- and short-chain PFAS disrupt normal reproductive function in women through altering hormone secretion, menstrual cyclicity, and fertility. Here, we summarize the role of a variety of PFAS and PFAS mixtures in female reproductive tract dysfunction and disease. Since these chemicals may affect reproductive tissues directly or indirectly through endocrine disruption, the role of PFAS in breast, thyroid, and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis function are also discussed as the interplay between these tissues may be critical in understanding the long-term reproductive health effects of PFAS in women. A major research gap is the need for mechanism of action data - the targets for PFAS in the female reproductive and endocrine systems are not evident, but the effects are many. Given the global decline in female fecundity and the ability of PFAS to negatively impact female reproductive health, further studies are needed to examine effects on endocrine target tissues involved in the onset of reproductive disorders of women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany P Rickard
- Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27599, USA
| | - Imran Rizvi
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27599, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Suzanne E Fenton
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 111 TW Alexander Dr., Rm E121A, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
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18
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Kay JE, Cardona B, Rudel RA, Vandenberg LN, Soto AM, Christiansen S, Birnbaum LS, Fenton SE. Chemical Effects on Breast Development, Function, and Cancer Risk: Existing Knowledge and New Opportunities. Curr Environ Health Rep 2022; 9:535-62. [PMID: 35984634 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00376-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Population studies show worrisome trends towards earlier breast development, difficulty in breastfeeding, and increasing rates of breast cancer in young women. Multiple epidemiological studies have linked these outcomes with chemical exposures, and experimental studies have shown that many of these chemicals generate similar effects in rodents, often by disrupting hormonal regulation. These endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can alter the progression of mammary gland (MG) development, impair the ability to nourish offspring via lactation, increase mammary tissue density, and increase the propensity to develop cancer. However, current toxicological approaches to measuring the effects of chemical exposures on the MG are often inadequate to detect these effects, impairing our ability to identify exposures harmful to the breast and limiting opportunities for prevention. This paper describes key adverse outcomes for the MG, including impaired lactation, altered pubertal development, altered morphology (such as increased mammographic density), and cancer. It also summarizes evidence from humans and rodent models for exposures associated with these effects. We also review current toxicological practices for evaluating MG effects, highlight limitations of current methods, summarize debates related to how effects are interpreted in risk assessment, and make recommendations to strengthen assessment approaches. Increasing the rigor of MG assessment would improve our ability to identify chemicals of concern, regulate those chemicals based on their effects, and prevent exposures and associated adverse health effects.
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Sadighara P, Abedini A, Zirak MR, Salehi A, Darbandi Azar S, Mirzaei G, Vakili Saatloo N. Relationship between styrene exposure and prolactin secretion in human and animal studies: A systematic review. Hum Exp Toxicol 2022; 41:9603271221133538. [PMID: 36321261 DOI: 10.1177/09603271221133538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Styrene is widely used in industrial applications. Inhalation exposure occurs in the industry. Some studies indicated that serum prolactin concentrations increased after exposure to styrene, while other studies found no change. In this systematic review, the search was done with the keywords styrene and prolactin in the PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science and Scopus databases, regardless of the publication period. 118 studies were obtained and only seven articles were finally selected according to exclusion and inclusion criteria. The effect of styrene on prolactin secretion was selected in both human and animal studies. The increased response was seen in inhalation exposures. Subcutaneous exposure has no significant effect on prolactin levels. The observed responses were both dose-dependent and gender-dependent. Changes in serum prolactin were more frequent in women compared to exposed men. Dopamine depletion was not observed in all studies, so more tests on laboratory animals are necessary to clarify the possible mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Sadighara
- Faculty of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Food Safety Division, 48439Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - A Abedini
- Faculty of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Food Safety Division, 48439Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - M-R Zirak
- Department of Pharmacodynamics and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - A Salehi
- Faculty of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Food Safety Division, 48439Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - S Darbandi Azar
- Department of Nutrition Research, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, 556492Shaheed Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - G Mirzaei
- Faculty of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Food Safety Division, 48439Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - N Vakili Saatloo
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, 117045Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
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