title: Prenatal Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Acids and Serum Testosterone Concentrations at 15 Years of Age in Female ALSPAC Study Participants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) or to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) increases mouse and human peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) subtype activity, which influences lipid metabolism. Because cholesterol is the substrate from which testosterone is synthesized, exposure to these substances has the potential to alter testosterone concentrations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We explored associations of total testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) concentrations at age 15 years with prenatal exposures to PFOS, PFOA, perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluoronanoic acid (PFNA) in females.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prenatal concentrations of the perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) were measured in serum collected from pregnant mothers at enrollment (1991-1992) in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). The median gestational age when the maternal blood sample was obtained was 16 weeks (interquartile range, 11-28 weeks). Total testosterone and SHBG concentrations were measured in serum obtained from their daughters at 15 years of age. Associations between prenatal PFAAs concentrations and reproductive outcomes were estimated using linear regression models (n = 72).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adjusted total testosterone concentrations were on average 0.18-nmol/L (95% CI: 0.01, 0.35) higher in daughters with prenatal PFOS in the upper concentration tertile compared with daughters with prenatal PFOS in the lower tertile. Adjusted total testosterone concentrations were also higher in daughters with prenatal concentrations of PFOA (β = 0.24; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.43) and PFHxS (β = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.00, 0.35) in the upper tertile compared with daughters with concentrations in the lower tertile. We did not find evidence of associations between PFNA and total testosterone or between any of the PFAAs and SHBG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings were based on a small study sample and should be interpreted with caution. However, they suggest that prenatal exposure to some PFAAs may alter testosterone concentrations in females.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: Mildred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maisonet
authors.forename: Antonia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Calafat
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: Jouni J K
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Jaakkola
authors.forename: Hany
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lashen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D002210:Caprylates / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000097:blood*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D002210:Caprylates; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; C023036:perfluorooctanoic acid; C076994:perfluorooctane sulfonic acid