Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and inflammatory biomarker concentrations.
- DOI
- Language of the publication
- English
- Date
- 2023-07-25
- Type
- Article
- Author(s)
- Palaniyandi, Jana
- Bruin, Jennifer E.
- Kumarathasan, Premkumari
- MacPherson, Susan
- Borghese, Michael M.
- Ashley-Martin, Jillian
- Publisher
- Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants that induce immunotoxicity in experimental studies; however, epidemiological evidence-particularly during pregnancy-is scarce. We quantified associations between first trimester plasma perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) concentrations and third trimester concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers and determined if these associations were modified by fetal sex. Methods: We analyzed data from 1411 participants, recruited between 2008 and 2011, in the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals study. Our primary outcome was a composite inflammatory index derived by summing the z-scores of eight proinflammatory biomarkers. Using multivariable linear regression models, we quantified associations between each PFAS and the inflammatory index and individual biomarkers. We quantified the effects of the PFAS mixture using weighted quantile sum regression, and evaluated effect modification using product terms and sex-stratified models. Results: Each doubling of PFOA and PFHxS was associated with a 0.38 (95% CI, 0.09, 0.67) and 0.21 (95% CI, 0.01, 0.41) SD increase in the proinflammatory index, respectively. A one-quartile increase in the PFAS mixture was associated with a 0.40 (95% CI, 0.09, 0.71) SD increase in the proinflammatory index. In individual models, we observed positive associations between PFAS and concentrations of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, macrophage inflammatory protein-1β, and matrix metalloproteinases-9; however, the magnitude and precision varied according to the specific PFAS. Sex-specific findings were identified in few PFAS-biomarker associations. Conclusions: PFOA, PFOS, and PFHxS, individually and as a mixture, were positively associated with proinflammatory biomarkers during pregnancy.
Plain language summary
PFAS are chemicals used in many consumer products such as cookware, clothing, and furniture for their unique oil-, water-, and heat-resistant properties. Despite the widespread use of PFAS in consumer products, few studies have investigated whether exposure to PFAS is associated with biomarkers of inflammation during pregnancy. Inflammatory biomarkers are biological molecules in the blood that show if and how much inflammation – a part of the body’s natural defense mechanisms – is occurring in the body. It is particularly important to understand if chemicals such as PFAS disrupt inflammation during pregnancy, because a healthy pregnancy requires maintaining a balance between too much and too little inflammation. Chemists measured levels of three different PFAS in first trimester blood and levels of 19 different inflammatory biomarkers in third trimester blood collected from MIREC participants. From these biomarkers, the researchers created a score that reflects overall systemic inflammation. They used statistical models to examine the relationship between PFAS levels, inflammation biomarkers, and the inflammatory score during pregnancy. The researchers also determined whether these associations between PFAS and inflammation differed according to fetal sex. Higher levels of PFAS were associated with an increase in the inflammatory score. All three PFAS were associated with certain individual inflammatory biomarkers. Furthermore, when considering the combined effects of all three PFAS, an increase in PFAS mixture levels was associated with a higher composite inflammatory score. Some associations between PFAS and biomarkers differed according to fetal sex. This research demonstrates that prenatal exposure to PFAS is associated with levels of inflammatory biomarkers. Future MIREC research will investigate if the PFAS exposure-related changes in inflammatory biomarkers observed in this study play a role in increasing chances of adverse maternal health outcomes.
Subject
- Health,
- Health and safety