Are perfluorooctane sulfonate alternatives safer? New insights from a birth cohort study

Chu Chu; Yang Zhou; Qing-Qing Li; Michael S Bloom; Shao Lin; Yun-Jiang Yu; Da Chen; Hong-Yao Yu; Li-Wen Hu; Bo-Yi Yang; Xiao-Wen Zeng; Guang-Hui Dong

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2019.105365

Are perfluorooctane sulfonate alternatives safer? New insights from a birth cohort study

Environ Int. 2020 Feb:135:105365. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105365. Epub 2019 Dec 9.

Authors

Chu Chu¹, Yang Zhou¹, Qing-Qing Li¹, Michael S Bloom², Shao Lin³, Yun-Jiang Yu⁴, Da Chen⁵, Hong-Yao Yu¹, Li-Wen Hu¹, Bo-Yi Yang¹, Xiao-Wen Zeng¹, Guang-Hui Dong⁶

Affiliations

¹ Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
² Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Departments of Environmental Health Sciences & Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA.
³ Departments of Environmental Health Sciences & Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA.
⁴ State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou 510655, China.
⁵ School of Environment, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
⁶ Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China. Electronic address: donggh5@mail.sysu.edu.cn.

PMID: 31830731
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105365

Abstract

Background: Experimental studies show that chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonic acids (Cl-PFESA 6:2 and 8:2), one of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) used as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) alternatives, are reproductive toxicants in vivo and in vitro. However, the associations between gestational exposure to Cl-PFESAs and birth outcomes are unknown.

Objectives: We investigated associations between 6:2 Cl-PFESA and 8:2 Cl-PFESA in maternal serum and birth outcomes.

Methods: We measured four PFAS, including 6:2 Cl-PFESA, 8:2 Cl-PFESA, PFOS, and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in third-trimester maternal serum collected from 372 mother-child dyads participating in the Guangzhou Birth Cohort Study. Characteristics of mothers and infants were gathered from medical records and by interviewer-administered questionnaires.

Results: PFOS was the most abundant PFAS in maternal serum (median: 7.15 ng/mL), followed by 6:2 Cl-PFESA (median: 2.41 ng/mL). Greater maternal serum levels of all PFAS alternatives were significantly associated with lower birth weight, adjusted for confounding variables. For example, each ln-ng/mL greater concentration of 6:2 Cl-PFESA and 8:2 Cl-PFESA was associated with a 54.44 g [95% confidence interval (CI): -95.66, -13.22] and 21.15 g (95% CI: -41.44, -0.86) lower birth weight, respectively. Greater continuous maternal serum 6:2 Cl-PFESA (OR: 2.67, 95% CI: 1.73, 4.15) and PFOS (OR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.24, 3.32) were also associated with higher risks for preterm birth, adjusted for confounders, with a possible threshold effect at the highest quartile of 6:2 Cl-PFESA.

Conclusions: For the first time, we report associations between maternal serum 6:2 Cl-PFESA and 8:2 Cl-PFESA concentrations and adverse birth outcomes. Our findings suggest that PFOS alternatives may be reproductive toxicants in human populations and should be considered with caution before widespread use. Given the preliminary nature of our results, additional epidemiological and toxicological investigations are needed to more definitively assess the risks.

Keywords: 6:2 Cl-PFESA; 8:2 Cl-PFESA; Birth weight; Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) alternatives; Preterm birth.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Alkanesulfonic Acids / analysis*
Caprylates
Cohort Studies
Fluorocarbons / analysis*
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Sulfonic Acids

Substances

Alkanesulfonic Acids
Caprylates
Fluorocarbons
Sulfonic Acids
perfluorooctane sulfonic acid