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Maternal exposure to perfluorinated acids and fetal growth
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Maternal exposure to perfluorinated acids and fetal growth

Michele P Hamm, Nicola M Cherry, Emily Chan, Jonathan W Martin and Igor Burstyn
Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology, v 20(7), pp 589-597
Nov 2010
PMID: 19865074
url
https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2009.57View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Birth Weight - drug effects Sulfonic Acids - blood Fetal Development - drug effects Fluorocarbons - adverse effects Humans Linear Models Male Gestational Age Pregnancy Fluorocarbons - blood Sulfonic Acids - adverse effects Maternal Exposure - adverse effects Alkanesulfonic Acids - adverse effects Alkanesulfonic Acids - blood Female Infant, Small for Gestational Age Poisson Distribution Caprylates - adverse effects Caprylates - blood Infant, Newborn Cohort Studies
The widespread detection of perfluorinated acids (PFAs) in humans and known developmental toxicity in animals has raised concern about their potential effects on human reproductive health. Our objective was to determine whether increasing maternal exposure to PFAs is associated with adverse effects on fetal growth and length of gestation in women giving birth in Alberta, Canada. We examined the concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) in a cohort of 252 pregnant women who gave birth to live singletons. Each of the women had undergone an early second trimester prenatal screen, and her serum was analyzed for PFA concentrations. Data on infant and maternal variables were collected from the delivery record completed at birth. Adjusted changes in birth weight per natural log (ng/ml) of PFOA (median 1.5 ng/ml), PFHxS (median 0.97 ng/ml), and PFOS (median 7.8 ng/ml) were -37.4 g (95% confidence interval (CI): -86.0 to 11.2 g), 21.9 g (-23.4 to 67.2 g), and 31.3 g (-43.3 to 105.9 g), respectively. Mean birth weight z-score, standardized for gestational age and gender, length of gestation, and risk of preterm birth did not appear to be influenced by maternal PFA exposure. When PFA concentrations were divided into tertiles, similar patterns were observed. These results suggest that maternal PFA exposure has no substantial effect on fetal weight and length of gestation at the concentrations observed in this population.

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117 citations in Scopus

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#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#6 Clean Water and Sanitation

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Web of Science research areas
Environmental Sciences
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Toxicology
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