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Sociodemographic predictors of PFAS exposure among a combined sample of U.S. pregnant women: an Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) public-use dataset analysis
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Sociodemographic predictors of PFAS exposure among a combined sample of U.S. pregnant women: an Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) public-use dataset analysis

Jessie Gleason, Kristen Lyall, Jerald A Fagliano, Lucy F Robinson, Gloria B. Post and Anneclaire J De Roos
Journal of exposure science and environmental epidemiology
15 Dec 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-025-00833-8
PMID: 41398310
Featured in Collection :   Research Supported by Drexel Libraries' OA Programs
url
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-025-00833-8View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)Open Access via Drexel Libraries Read and Publish Program 2025CC BY V4.0,  Open

Abstract

Child or Maternal Health Epidemiology
Background Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemicals widely used in manufacturing since the 1940s and are associated with developmental and immune effects at exposure levels observed in the general population. Objective To evaluate differences in exposure to 14 PFAS by sociodemographic factors among U.S. pregnant women. Methods We combined maternal PFAS measurements from pregnant women from twelve pediatric cohorts drawn from the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) consortium’s public-use dataset (n = 3,043). Geometric means were estimated by race, ethnicity, and education. We used multivariable linear regression to estimate percent difference in log-transformed PFAS levels and logistic regression to assess odds of detectable PFAS levels by sociodemographic factors, adjusting for cohort, maternal age, trimester, year of sample collection, parity, BMI, fish consumption, and breastfeeding. Results Compared with White mothers, Black mothers had lower levels of PFOA (−23%; 95% CI −29%, −16%), PFOS (−9%; 95% CI −16%, −1%), and PFHxS (−23%; 95% CI −29%, −14%) based on linear analysis, and lower detection of PFOSA, EtFOSAA, PFDoDA, and PFPeA and higher detection of PFBS and PFHxA based on logistic analysis. Compared with White mothers, Asian mothers had higher levels of PFNA ( + 26%; 95% CI 13%, 40%), PFDA ( + 60%, 95% CI 36%, 89%), and PFUnDA (+95%; 95% CI 63%, 134%) based on linear analysis and higher detection of PFPeA based on logistic regression. Greater weekly fish consumption was found to be a significant predictor of PFAS concentrations but did not attenuate associations with Asian race. Compared with non-Hispanic mothers, Hispanic mothers had lower levels of most of PFAS analytes studied. Higher levels of maternal education were associated with increased levels of most PFAS analytes. Significance In data drawn from this US consortium, documents continued widespread PFAS exposure, with higher levels noted for certain racial groups, non-Hispanic ethnicity, and higher educational attainment. Impact statement We analyzed data from a combined sample of U.S. pregnant women (n = 3043) in the ECHO public-use dataset to assess exposure to 14 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including both legacy and less-studied compounds. Higher levels of some PFAS were observed by race, ethnicity, and education. Our findings document continued widespread PFAS exposure in the U.S., including among fetuses and newborns who may be especially vulnerable to developmental and immune effects. Ongoing biomonitoring is critical for understanding changing exposure patterns across racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#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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