Umbilical cord blood levels of perfluoroalkyl acids and polybrominated flame retardants

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are persistent organic pollutants representing two classes of environmental contaminants of toxicological concern, especially for infants. Canadian biomonitoring data on these chemicals are limited. The objectives of this study were to measure PFAAs and PBDEs in umbilical cord blood from approximately 100 hospital deliveries in Ottawa (Ontario, Canada) and examine associations with characteristics of the mother and infant. Geometric means were 1.469 ng/mL for perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) (95% confidence interval of 1.292-1.671 ng/mL), 4.443 ng/mL for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) (95% CI of 3.735-5.285 ng/mL), 0.359 ng/mL for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) (95% CI of 0.318-0.404 ng/mL), and 0.579 ng/mL for perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) (95% CI of 0.473-0.709 ng/mL). The final multiple regression models indicated that lower gravida, term gestational age, smoking during pregnancy and vaginal delivery were significantly associated with higher levels of PFOS. Similarly, a vaginal delivery was significantly associated with higher PFOA, while weak associations were found with lower gravida and birth weight less than 2500 g. Furthermore, higher PFNA concentrations were significantly associated with older mothers, and vaginal delivery, while weakly associated with term gestational age. Elevated PFHxS concentrations were significantly associated with smoking during pregnancy and lower gravida. Similar to reports from other countries, the preponderant PBDE congener measured in the cord blood was PBDE-47. Questions remain on why various studies have reported conflicting results on the association between PFAAs and birth weight.