title: Maternal transfer of perfluoroalkyl substances in hooded seals.
abstract: The role of milk in the transfer of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) to offspring is not well known in wildlife. Eight PFASs were quantified in plasma and milk in mother-pup pairs of hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) during the nursing period, and the role of milk in the transfer process was analyzed. Hooded seal was chosen because of its short lactation period (3-4 d), during which the pup feeds only on milk. Placental or lactation transfer would thus be the only source of PFAS in the pup. Of the 8 PFASs analyzed (Σ8PFAS), 7 were found in all samples; therefore, milk is a source to PFASs in pups. Perfluorooctane sulfonate was the dominant PFAS in all samples. Mean Σ8PFAS concentrations were 6.0 ng/g protein (36 ng/g wet wt) in maternal plasma, 0.77 ng/g protein (3.2 ng/g wet wt) in milk, and 12 ng/g protein (66 ng/g wet wt) in pup plasma. Measured concentrations in plasma were within ranges previously reported from other seal species, below known toxicity thresholds for experimental rodents. Individual PFASs differed in transfer efficiency from mother to pup, depending on carbon chain lengths, with the lowest relative transfer for the intermediate-chained PFASs (C9-C10). The results show maternal transfer of PFASs via both milk and the placenta, of which placental transfer is the dominant pathway. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:763-770. © 2016 SETAC.
authors: Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Randi
authors: R
authors: Grønnestad
authors: Department of Child Development and Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Gro D
authors: GD
authors: Villanger
authors: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.|North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
authors: Anuschka
authors: A
authors: Polder
authors: Fram Centre, Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø, Norway.
authors: Kit M
authors: KM
authors: Kovacs
authors: Fram Centre, Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø, Norway.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Lydersen
authors: Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors: Bjørn M
authors: BM
authors: Jenssen
authors: Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Katrine
authors: K
authors: Borgå
mesh_terms: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D046048:Seals, Earless / Q000097:blood / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Arctic; Milk; Perfluoroalkyl substance; Perfluorooctane sulfonate; Placental transfer