TY - JOUR
T1 - Gestational PFAS exposure and newborn size
T2 - The modifying effect of cord blood fatty acids
AU - Gao, Chang
AU - Luo, Lin
AU - Fan, Yijun
AU - Guo, Liyan
AU - Guo, Lijuan
AU - Tao, Lin
AU - Tao, Fangbiao
AU - Xu, De Xiang
AU - Gibson, Robert A.
AU - Makrides, Maria
AU - Wang, Hua
AU - Huang, Yichao
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors
PY - 2024/11
Y1 - 2024/11
N2 - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) can disrupt lipid metabolism, and changes in cord blood fatty acid composition have been observed in small newborns. Emerging evidence suggests that exposure to PFASs during pregnancy is linked to decreased newborn size, although the evidence is not consistent. The modifying effect of fatty acids on the associations of gestational PFAS exposure with newborn size is still unknown. Here we show that the nutritional status of the fetus, as indicated by the level of fatty acids in the cord blood, mitigates the adverse effects of gestational PFAS exposure on the size of the newborn. Our study confirms the adverse developmental effects of PFASs and identifies emerging short-chain PFASs as the primary drivers of reduced newborn size, despite their lower exposure burden compared to legacy PFASs. Additionally, we find the protective role of cord blood fatty acids, suggesting potential strategies for mitigating the detrimental effects of emerging environmental exposures on human health. Our findings provide new evidence of the potential toxicity of emerging PFASs and call for further toxicity evaluations of these pollutants for regulatory purposes. Future studies should consider the complex interaction between exposure and nutrition within the human body, particularly during the first thousand days of life, to promote lifelong health.
AB - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) can disrupt lipid metabolism, and changes in cord blood fatty acid composition have been observed in small newborns. Emerging evidence suggests that exposure to PFASs during pregnancy is linked to decreased newborn size, although the evidence is not consistent. The modifying effect of fatty acids on the associations of gestational PFAS exposure with newborn size is still unknown. Here we show that the nutritional status of the fetus, as indicated by the level of fatty acids in the cord blood, mitigates the adverse effects of gestational PFAS exposure on the size of the newborn. Our study confirms the adverse developmental effects of PFASs and identifies emerging short-chain PFASs as the primary drivers of reduced newborn size, despite their lower exposure burden compared to legacy PFASs. Additionally, we find the protective role of cord blood fatty acids, suggesting potential strategies for mitigating the detrimental effects of emerging environmental exposures on human health. Our findings provide new evidence of the potential toxicity of emerging PFASs and call for further toxicity evaluations of these pollutants for regulatory purposes. Future studies should consider the complex interaction between exposure and nutrition within the human body, particularly during the first thousand days of life, to promote lifelong health.
KW - Fatty acid status
KW - Fetal nutrition
KW - Gestational exposure
KW - Newborn size
KW - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85200807117&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ese.2024.100476
DO - 10.1016/j.ese.2024.100476
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85200807117
SN - 2666-4984
VL - 22
JO - Environmental Science and Ecotechnology
JF - Environmental Science and Ecotechnology
M1 - 100476
ER -