title: The effect of prenatal perfluorinated chemicals exposures on pediatric atopy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in the immune system and allergic diseases is not well-known. This study examined the effects of pre-natal exposure to PFCs on immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and atopic dermatitis (AD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In Taiwan Birth Panel cohort study, newborns with cord blood and peri-natal factors (i.e. birth body weight, weeks of gestation, and type of delivery) gathered at birth were evaluated. At the age of 2 years, information on the development of AD, environmental exposures, and serum total IgE were collected. The AD and non-AD children were compared for the concentration of cord blood serum PFCs measured by Ultra-performance liquid chromatography/triple-quadrupole mass (UPLC-MS/MS). Correlations among cord blood IgE, serum total IgE at 2 years of age, and cord blood PFC levels were made.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 244 children who completed the follow-up and specimen collections, 43 (17.6%) developed AD. Concentrations of cord blood serum perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) were median (range) 1.71 (0.75-17.40), 5.50 (0.11-48.36), 2.30 (0.38-63.87), and 0.035 (0.035-0.420)ng/mL, respectively. PFOA and PFOS levels positively correlated with cord blood IgE levels (per ln-unit: β=0.134 KU/l, p=0.047 for PFOA; β=0.161 KU/l, p=0.017 for PFOS). Analyses stratified by gender revealed that PFOA and PFOS levels positively correlated with cord blood IgE levels only in boys (per ln-unit: β=0.206 KU/l, p=0.025 for PFOA; β=0.175 KU/l, p=0.053 for PFOS). When dividing cord blood serum PFCs into quartiles in the fully adjusted models, AD had no significant association with PFOS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pre-natal PFOA and PFOS exposures positively correlated with cord blood IgE levels.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Hospital, Department of Health, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: I-Jen
authors: IJ
authors: Wang
authors: Wu-Shiun
authors: WS
authors: Hsieh
authors: Chia-Yang
authors: CY
authors: Chen
authors: Tony
authors: T
authors: Fletcher
authors: Guang-Wen
authors: GW
authors: Lien
authors: Hung-Lung
authors: HL
authors: Chiang
authors: Chow-Feng
authors: CF
authors: Chiang
authors: Trong-Neng
authors: TN
authors: Wu
authors: Pau-Chung
authors: PC
authors: Chen