Journal Article

Maternal Plasma per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Concentrations in Early Pregnancy and Maternal and Neonatal Thyroid Function in a Prospective Birth Cohort: Project Viva (USA)

McClean, Michael D., Sagiv, Sharon K., Ye, Xiaoyun, Preston, Emma V., Claus Henn, Birgit, Braverman, Lewis E., Oken, Emily, Pearce, Elizabeth N., Webster, Thomas F., Rifas-Shiman, Sheryl L., Calafat, Antonia M.

2018

Overview

Prenatal exposure to some per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) may disrupt maternal and neonatal thyroid function, which is critical for normal growth and neurodevelopment. We examined associations of PFAS exposure during early pregnancy with maternal and neonatal thyroid hormone levels. We studied 732 mothers and 480 neonates in Project Viva, a longitudinal prebirth cohort in Boston, Massachusetts. We quantified six PFASs, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and maternal thyroid hormones [thyroxine (T ), Free T Index (FT I), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)] in plasma samples collected at a median 9.6 wk gestation and neonatal T levels from postpartum heel sticks. We estimated associations of PFAS concentrations with thyroid hormone levels using covariate-adjusted linear regression models and explored effect measure modification by maternal thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) status and infant sex. PFAS concentrations were not associated with maternal T , but PFOA, perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and 2-(N-methyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido) acetate (MeFOSAA) were inversely associated with maternal FT I [e.g., -1.87% (95% confidence interval (CI): -3.40, -0.31) per interquartile (IQR) increase in PFOA]. PFAS concentrations [PFOA, PFOS, and perfluorononanoate (PFNA)] were inversely associated with TSH levels in TPOAb-positive women only. Prenatal PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS concentrations were inversely associated with T levels in male [e.g., PFHxS, quartile 4 vs.1: -2.51μg/dL (95% CI: -3.99, -1.04 )], but not female neonates [0.40μg/dL (95% CI: -0.98, 1.79)]. In this study, prenatal exposure to some PFASs during early pregnancy was inversely associated with maternal FT I and neonatal T in male infants. These results support the hypothesis that prenatal exposure to PFASs influences thyroid function in both mothers and infants. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP2534.

• Publisher: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences,Environmental Health Perspectives
• Subject: Acetic acid / Adult / Animal cognition / Boston - epidemiology / Cohort Studies / Confidence intervals / Environmental Exposure - adverse effects / Exposure / Female / Fluorocarbons - administration & dosage / Fluorocarbons - toxicity / Gestation / Hormones / Human exposure / Humans / Infant, Newborn / Infants / Iodide peroxidase / Iodine / Laboratory tests / Linear Models / Longitudinal Studies / Male / Maternal & child health / Medical laboratories / Medical screening / Neonatal care / Neonates / Newborn babies / Perfluoro compounds / Perfluoroalkyl & polyfluoroalkyl substances / Perfluorohexane / Perfluorooctanoic acid / Peroxidase / Physiology / Plasma / Population / Postpartum / Pregnancy / Pregnancy Complications - epidemiology / Pregnancy Complications - etiology / Prenatal experience / Prenatal exposure / Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects - epidemiology / Prospective Studies / Questionnaires / Regression analysis / Regression models / Sex Factors / Statistical analysis / Sulfonates / Thyroid / Thyroid gland / Thyroid Gland - physiopathology / Thyroid hormones / Thyroid-stimulating hormone / Thyrotropin - blood / Thyroxine / Thyroxine - blood / Womens health