Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Assessment of Maternal Vascular Remodeling During Pregnancy in the Mouse Uterus

Assessment of Maternal Vascular Remodeling During Pregnancy in the Mouse Uterus

Published on: December 5, 2015

Maternal Plasma per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Concentrations in Early Pregnancy and Maternal and Neonatal

Emma V Preston¹, Thomas F Webster¹, Emily Oken^2,3

¹Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Environmental Health Perspectives

|March 1, 2018

Abstract

Background:

Prenatal exposure to some per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) may disrupt maternal and neonatal thyroid function, which is critical for normal growth and neurodevelopment.

Objectives:

We examined associations of PFAS exposure during early pregnancy with maternal and neonatal thyroid hormone levels.

Methods:

We studied 732 mothers and 480 neonates in Project Viva, a longitudinal prebirth cohort in Boston, Massachusetts. We quantified six PFASs, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and maternal thyroid hormones [thyroxine (T₄), Free T₄ Index (FT₄I), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)] in plasma samples collected at a median 9.6 wk gestation and neonatal T₄ levels from postpartum heel sticks. We estimated associations of PFAS concentrations with thyroid hormone levels using covariate-adjusted linear regression models and explored effect measure modification by maternal thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) status and infant sex.

Results:

PFAS concentrations were not associated with maternal T₄, but PFOA, perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and 2-(N-methyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido) acetate (MeFOSAA) were inversely associated with maternal FT₄I [e.g., -1.87% (95% confidence interval (CI): -3.40, -0.31) per interquartile (IQR) increase in PFOA]. PFAS concentrations [PFOA, PFOS, and perfluorononanoate (PFNA)] were inversely associated with TSH levels in TPOAb-positive women only. Prenatal PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS concentrations were inversely associated with T₄ levels in male [e.g., PFHxS, quartile 4 vs.1: -2.51μg/dL (95% CI: -3.99, -1.04 )], but not female neonates [0.40μg/dL (95% CI: -0.98, 1.79)].

Conclusions:

In this study, prenatal exposure to some PFASs during early pregnancy was inversely associated with maternal FT₄I and neonatal T₄ in male infants. These results support the hypothesis that prenatal exposure to PFASs influences thyroid function in both mothers and infants. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP2534.

More Related Videos

Assessment of Perigenital Sensitivity and Prostatic Mast Cell Activation in a Mouse Model of Neonatal Maternal Separation

Assessment of Perigenital Sensitivity and Prostatic Mast Cell Activation in a Mouse Model of Neonatal Maternal Separation

Published on: August 13, 2015

Determining the Role of Maternally-Expressed Genes in Early Development with Maternal Crispants

Determining the Role of Maternally-Expressed Genes in Early Development with Maternal Crispants

Published on: December 21, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Functions of Thyroid Hormones

Functions of Thyroid Hormones

The thyroid hormone (TH) plays a pivotal role in the intricate orchestration of physiological processes, exerting profound effects on development, metabolism, and homeostasis throughout different life stages.
TH is indispensable for the normal development and maturation of the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems during fetal and childhood growth. It facilitates bone mineral turnover and regulates protein synthesis in developing tissues, contributing significantly to overall growth and...

Birth Control Methods

Birth Control Methods

Vasectomy is a surgical form of male sterilization that involves severing and sealing the vasa deferentia, preventing sperm from mixing with semen during ejaculation. Because a vasectomy does not impact the testes' ability to produce testosterone, hormone levels, libido, and sexual function generally remain unchanged. While vasectomy is highly effective in preventing pregnancy, with a success rate near 99.85%, rare cases of recanalization (spontaneous reconnection) can occur. Although...

Fischer Projections

Fischer Projections

Learning to draw Fischer projections of molecules and understanding their relevance plays a crucial role in the visual depiction of organic molecules. A Fischer projection is a two-dimensional projection on a planar surface to simplify the three-dimensional wedge–dash representation of molecules. This is especially helpful in the case of molecules with multiple chiral centers that can be difficult to draw. Here, all the bonds of interest are represented as horizontal or vertical lines. While...

Calculating Equilibrium Concentrations

Calculating Equilibrium Concentrations

Being able to calculate equilibrium concentrations is essential to many areas of science and technology—for example, in the formulation and dosing of pharmaceutical products. After a drug is ingested or injected, it is typically involved in several chemical equilibria that affect its ultimate concentration in the body system of interest. Knowledge of the quantitative aspects of these equilibria is required to compute a dosage amount that will solicit the desired therapeutic effect.
A more...

Newman Projections

Newman Projections

Different notations are used to represent the three-dimensional structure of molecules on two-dimensional surfaces. One of the most commonly used representations is the dash-wedge formula. The dashed wedges, solid wedges, and the plane lines indicate the groups situated behind the plane, coming out of the plane, and in the plane, respectively.
The organic molecules rotate across the single bonds leading to numerous temporary three-dimensional structures of varying energy known as...

The Thyroid Gland

The Thyroid Gland

The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck and covers the anterior surface of the trachea. The gland has two lateral lobes connected by a thin tissue mass called the isthmus. Internally, each lobe comprises many small spherical structures known as thyroid follicles, surrounded by a network of blood vessels.
The follicles have a central cavity lined by simple cuboidal to squamous epithelial cells called follicular cells. These cells produce the glycoprotein...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and kidney function: Follow-up results from the Diabetes Prevention Program trial.

Environment international·2021

Gestational and childhood exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and cardiometabolic risk at age 12 years.

Environment international·2021

Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in association with autism spectrum disorder in the MARBLES study.

Environment international·2021

Incidence of uterine leiomyoma in relation to urinary concentrations of phthalate and phthalate alternative biomarkers: A prospective ultrasound study.

Environment international·2020

Prenatal Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, Umbilical Cord Blood DNA Methylation, and Cardio-Metabolic Indicators in Newborns: The Healthy Start Study.

Environmental health perspectives·2020

Identifying windows of susceptibility to endocrine disrupting chemicals in relation to gestational weight gain among pregnant women attending a fertility clinic.

Environmental research·2020

See all related articles