posted on 2024-01-30, 23:05authored byYu Zhang, Vicente Mustieles, Leah Martin, Yang Sun, Alexandra Hillcoat, Xin Fang, Zainab Bibi, Nicole Torres, Ayanna Coburn-Sanderson, Olivia First, Irene Souter, John C. Petrozza, Julianne C. Botelho, Antonia M. Calafat, Yi-Xin Wang, Carmen Messerlian
Prenatal
per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure is
associated with adverse birth outcomes. There is an absence of evidence
on the relationship between maternal and paternal preconception PFAS
exposure and birth outcomes. This study included 312 mothers and
145 fathers with a singleton live birth from a preconception cohort
of subfertile couples seeking fertility treatment at a U.S. clinic.
PFAS were quantified in serum samples collected before conception.
Gestational age (GA) and birthweight (BW) were abstracted from delivery
records. We also assessed low birthweight (BW < 2500 g) and preterm
birth (GA < 37 completed weeks). We utilized multivariable linear
regression, logistic regression, and quantile-based g computation
to examine maternal or paternal serum concentrations of individual
PFAS and mixture with birth outcomes. Maternal serum concentrations
of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS),
and the total PFAS mixture were inversely associated with birthweight.
Maternal PFOS concentration was associated with a higher risk of
low birthweight. Conversely, paternal PFOS and PFHxS concentrations
were imprecisely associated with higher birthweight. No associations
were found for gestational age or preterm birth. The findings have
important implications for preconception care. Future research with
larger sample sizes would assist in validating these findings.