title: Perfluoroalkyl substances with isomer analysis in umbilical cord serum in China.
abstract: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a class of widely used chemicals that have been detected in the environment and general population. However, the isomer patterns in human are poorly characterized. Previous studies observed the isomer-specific maternal-fetal transfer of PFASs in human. In our current study, we first examined the profile of PFASs and isomers, including 17 linear PFASs and 10 branched PFOS/PFOA isomers by using isotopic internal standards in umbilical cord serum samples from Guangzhou, China. We collected a total of 321 of cord blood serum samples from July to October in 2013, and analyzed the PFASs concentration with isomer-specific PFASs analysis method. The results showed that 9 out of 17 PFASs (linear PFASs) were detected (>50% detection rate). Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS, median 3.87 ng/mL) was the predominant, followed by total PFOS (median 2.99 ng/mL) and total PFOA (median 1.23 ng/mL) in cord serum. In addition, 1m-, iso-, ∑3+4+5m-PFOS and iso-PFOA were the branched PFASs detected in the current study. The proportion of linear PFOS (n-PFOS) was 75.16% of ∑PFOS which was similar to the proportion of electrochemical fluorination that produces ca. 70% linear PFOS and 30% branched. On the contrary, linear PFOA (n-PFOA) accounted for 98.69% ∑PFOA in cord serum samples. Our finding indicates distinct PFASs and PFOS/PFOA isomer profile in cord serum, suggesting there might be a different exposure pathway and metabolism of PFASs.
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, 74 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
authors.forename: Ya-Zhi
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, 74 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Wen
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA.
authors.forename: Zhengmin Min
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Vaughn
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Health Studies, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, 60115, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah Dee
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Geiger
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, 74 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
authors.forename: Li-Wen
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Liwan District Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Guangzhou, 510375, China.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China. fuchuanxi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chuanxi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, 74 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, China. donggh5@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Guang-Hui
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D002210:Caprylates; D002681:China; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D006801:Humans; D014470:Umbilical Cord
chemical_list: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D002210:Caprylates; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005466:Fluorocarbons
keywords: China; Cord serum; Isomers; PFHxS; PFOA; PFOS; Perfluoroalkyl substances