title: Human placental transfer of perfluoroalkyl acid precursors: Levels and profiles in paired maternal and cord serum.
abstract: Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) precursors, the indirect source of PFAA exposure, have been observed in environmental and human samples. However, the maternal-fetal transfer of these chemicals has not been well examined. In this study, 50 paired maternal and cord serum samples collected in Jiangsu province of China were analyzed for fifteen PFAA precursors. Among the detected PFAAs, 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS), N-methyl- and N-ethyl-perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetates had comparable detection rate in both maternal and cord sera, while the mean concentrations and detection rates of 8:2 FTS and perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA) were higher in maternal sera compared to cord sera (Mann-Whitney U test, P < 0.05). Analysis of variance and least significant difference tests showed that the youngest maternal age group (21-24 years old) had the highest concentration of 6:2 FTS in cord sera. Maternal serum PFOSA was found significantly correlated with the cord serum perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) (Spearman test, r = 0.361, P = 0.010), indicating that maternal serum PFOSA might be an indirect source of PFOS in fetuses. The obtained results suggested the potential prenatal exposure and human placental transfer of perfluoroalkyl acid precursors.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Ministry of Health and China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, No. 7, Panjiayuannanli, 100021 Beijing, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 100730 Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Ministry of Health and China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, No. 7, Panjiayuannanli, 100021 Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Ministry of Health and China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, No. 7, Panjiayuannanli, 100021 Beijing, China. Electronic address: lijg@cfsa.net.cn.
authors.forename: Jingguang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Ministry of Health and China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, No. 7, Panjiayuannanli, 100021 Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yuxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Ministry of Health and China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, No. 7, Panjiayuannanli, 100021 Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yunfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Ministry of Health and China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, No. 7, Panjiayuannanli, 100021 Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yongning
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Electronic address: zwcai@hkbu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Zongwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001724:Birth Weight; D049628:Body Size; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005466:Fluorocarbons
keywords: Perfluoroalkyl acids; Placenta transfer; Precursors; Prenatal exposure; Serum analysis