title: Shorter duration of breastfeeding at elevated exposures to perfluoroalkyl substances.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine whether maternal exposure to persistent perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) affect the capability to breastfeed. In two Faroese birth cohorts (N=1130), concentrations of five PFASs were measured in maternal serum during pregnancy or two weeks after term. Duration of breastfeeding was assessed by questionnaire and clinical interview. In adjusted linear regression models, a doubling of maternal serum PFASs was associated with a reduction in duration of both total and exclusive breastfeeding, most pronounced for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) where a doubling was associated with a reduction in total breastfeeding of 1.4 (95% CI: 0.6; 2.1) months and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) where a doubling was associated with a reduction in exclusive breastfeeding of 0.5 (0.3; 0.7) months. The associations were evident among both primiparous and multiparous women, and thus cannot be explained by confounding from previous breastfeeding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 17A, 5000 Odense C, Denmark. Electronic address: atimmermann@health.sdu.dk.
authors.forename: Clara Amalie Gade
authors.initials: CAG
authors.lastname: Timmermann
authors.affiliation: Section of Biostatistics, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1014 Copenhagen K, Denmark. Electronic address: zrg272@ku.dk.
authors.forename: Esben
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Budtz-Jørgensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, Sigmundargøta 5, 100 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, Denmark. Electronic address: maria@health.fo.
authors.forename: Maria Skaalum
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, Sigmundargøta 5, 100 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, Denmark; Faculty of Natural and Health Sciences, University of The Faroe Islands, J.C. Svabos gøta 14, 100 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, Denmark. Electronic address: pal@health.fo.
authors.forename: Pál
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weihe
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, Sigmundargøta 5, 100 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, Denmark. Electronic address: usteuerwald@web.de.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Steuerwald
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 17A, 5000 Odense C, Denmark. Electronic address: FNielsen@health.sdu.dk.
authors.forename: Flemming
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 17A, 5000 Odense C, Denmark. Electronic address: tkjensen@health.sdu.dk.
authors.forename: Tina Kold
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 17A, 5000 Odense C, Denmark; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States. Electronic address: PGrandjean@health.sdu.dk.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grandjean
mesh_terms: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood*; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000639:trends*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005466:Fluorocarbons; C076994:perfluorooctane sulfonic acid
keywords: Breast milk; Breastfeeding; Endocrine disruption; Lactation; Maternal health; Perfluoroalkyl substances