Longitudinal trajectories and determinants of plasma per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) levels from birth to early childhood and metabolomic associations: A pilot study in the Boston Birth Cohort.
Mingyu Zhang, Chang Ho Yu, Guoying Wang, Jessie P. Buckley, Xiumei Hong, Colleen Pearson, William G. Adams, Zhihua Fan, Xiaobin Wang
Abstract
Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a major public health concern worldwide due to their ubiquitous exposures, environmental persistence, maternal-to-fetal transfer, and multi-organ toxicity. This pilot study aimed to generate preliminary data to inform future studies to address data gaps in the field, including early life PFAS exposure levels, longitudinal changes, determinants, and associated metabolomic alterations in understudied Black and Hispanic children in the United States (U.S.). Methods: This study leveraged existing biosamples and data in the Boston Birth Cohort and measured 12 legacy and emerging PFAS, including Me-PFOSA-AcOH, PFDA, PFDoA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFOA, PFOS, PFUnA, GenX, ADONA, 9Cl-PF3ONS, and PFHpS, in paired cord and early childhood plasma samples. Summary statistics and graphic plots were used to depict PFAS levels at the two time points and their longitudinal changes. Linear regression models were used to identify the early-life factors associated with cord and early childhood PFAS levels. Associations of cord PFAS with cord metabolites were explored using a metabolome-wide association approach and a targeted approach. Results: PFAS exposure. Conclusions: PFAS exposures may alter fetal metabolism. Future large-scale studies are needed to replicate the findings and further examine the associations of fetal PFAS exposure with long-term health outcomes and underlying metabolic pathways.