Factors Associated with Maternal Serum Levels of Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Organochlorines: A Descriptive Study of Parous Women in Norway and Sweden.
BACKGROUND
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and organochlorines (OCs) are ubiquitous and persistent in the environment and proposed endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). They can be transferred across the placenta during pregnancy, and studies suggest that the prenatal period may be particularly sensitive for influences on fetal growth and development. Several studies have investigated socio-demographic and pregnancy related factors associated with maternal serum PFAS and OC levels, but few studies have been conducted in time periods with increasing emissions of PFASs and recent emissions of OCs.


METHODS
Serum from 424 pregnant women participating in the NICHD Scandinavian Successive Small-for-gestational Age (SGA) births study was collected in 1986-1988, and analyses of two PFASs and six OCs were conducted. Associations between EDCs and geographic, time dependent, socio-demographic and pregnancy related variables were evaluated by using multivariable linear regression models.


RESULTS
Previous breastfeeding duration, time since last breastfeeding period, sampling date and country of residence were important factors associated with serum levels of PFOS and PFOA. Smoking status and pre-pregnancy BMI were negatively associated with PFOS, and maternal height was borderline negatively associated with PFOS and PFOA. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was negatively associated with PFOS in a sub-sample. Maternal serum levels of OCs were positively associated with maternal age, and negatively associated with previous breastfeeding duration and sampling date. Smoking had a consistently negative association with PCB 118 in a dose-dependent manner. Education level, pre-pregnancy BMI and alcohol consumption varied in importance according to the compound under study.


CONCLUSIONS
Several maternal factors, including potentially modifiable factors, markers of pregnancy physiology and factors also related to perinatal outcomes were associated with EDC levels. Results from this study are relevant to populations with still high PFAS and OC levels, i.e. developing countries. Moreover, we can use this knowledge about associated factors on emerging EDCs with similar properties.
Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University for Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Hilde B
HB
Lauritzen
Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University for Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Tricia L
TL
Larose
Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University for Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Torbjørn
T
Øien
Department of Community Medicine, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.|School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Jon Ø
JØ
Odland
Section of Health and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Margot
M
van de Bor
Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University for Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Geir W
GW
Jacobsen
Department of Community Medicine, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.|NILU-Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Tromsø, Norway.
Torkjel M
TM
Sandanger
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009664:Norway; D011247:Pregnancy; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult
D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated