TY - JOUR
T1 - Maternal Serum, Cord and Human Milk Levels of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), Association with Predictors and Effect on Newborn Anthropometry
AU - Mahfouz, Maya
AU - Harmouche-Karaki, Mireille
AU - Matta, Joseph
AU - Mahfouz, Yara
AU - Salameh, Pascale
AU - Younes, Hassan
AU - Helou, Khalil
AU - Finan, Ramzi
AU - Abi-Tayeh, Georges
AU - Meslimani, Mohamad
AU - Moussa, Ghada
AU - Chahrour, Nada
AU - Osseiran, Camille
AU - Skaiki, Farouk
AU - Narbonne, Jean François
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/5
Y1 - 2023/5
N2 - Background: The understanding of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) health effects is rapidly advancing among critical populations. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess PFAS serum levels among Lebanese pregnant women, cord serum and human milk levels, their determinants, and effects on newborn anthropometry. Methods: We measured concentrations of six PFAS (PFHpA, PFOA, PFHxS, PFOS, PFNA and PFDA) using liquid chromatography MS/MS for 419 participants, of which 269 had sociodemographic, anthropometric, environmental and dietary information. Results: The percentage of detection for PFHpA, PFOA, PFHxS and PFOS was 36.3–37.7%. PFOA and PFOS levels (95th percentile) were higher than HBM-I and HBM-II values. While PFAS were not detected in cord serum, five compounds were detected in human milk. Multivariate regression showed that fish/shellfish consumption, vicinity to illegal incineration and higher educational level were associated with an almost twice higher risk of elevated PFHpA, PFOA, PFHxS and PFOS serum levels. Higher PFAS levels in human milk were observed with higher eggs and dairy products consumption, in addition to tap water (preliminary findings). Higher PFHpA was significantly associated with lower newborn weight-for-length Z-score at birth. Conclusions: Findings establish the need for further studies, and urgent action to reduce exposure among subgroups with higher PFAS levels.
AB - Background: The understanding of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) health effects is rapidly advancing among critical populations. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess PFAS serum levels among Lebanese pregnant women, cord serum and human milk levels, their determinants, and effects on newborn anthropometry. Methods: We measured concentrations of six PFAS (PFHpA, PFOA, PFHxS, PFOS, PFNA and PFDA) using liquid chromatography MS/MS for 419 participants, of which 269 had sociodemographic, anthropometric, environmental and dietary information. Results: The percentage of detection for PFHpA, PFOA, PFHxS and PFOS was 36.3–37.7%. PFOA and PFOS levels (95th percentile) were higher than HBM-I and HBM-II values. While PFAS were not detected in cord serum, five compounds were detected in human milk. Multivariate regression showed that fish/shellfish consumption, vicinity to illegal incineration and higher educational level were associated with an almost twice higher risk of elevated PFHpA, PFOA, PFHxS and PFOS serum levels. Higher PFAS levels in human milk were observed with higher eggs and dairy products consumption, in addition to tap water (preliminary findings). Higher PFHpA was significantly associated with lower newborn weight-for-length Z-score at birth. Conclusions: Findings establish the need for further studies, and urgent action to reduce exposure among subgroups with higher PFAS levels.
KW - cord
KW - exposure predictors
KW - human biomonitoring
KW - human milk
KW - newborn
KW - perinatal exposure
KW - persistent organic pollutants
KW - pregnant women
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85160336396&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/toxics11050455
DO - 10.3390/toxics11050455
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85160336396
SN - 2305-6304
VL - 11
JO - Toxics
JF - Toxics
IS - 5
M1 - 455
ER -