Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Breast Milk: Concerning Trends for Current-Use PFAS

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Toxicology
• Public Health

Background:

• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used synthetic chemicals with known environmental persistence and potential health concerns.
• Previous research has indicated PFAS contamination in various environmental matrices and human tissues, but recent data on U.S. breast milk is limited.
• Understanding the current PFAS burden in breast milk is crucial for assessing infant exposure risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the levels of legacy and current-use PFAS in breast milk from U.S. mothers.
• To identify the most prevalent PFAS compounds in breast milk.
• To analyze trends in PFAS concentrations in breast milk over time by comparing with global data.

Main Methods:

• Breast milk samples from 50 U.S. mothers were analyzed for 39 different PFAS, including short-chain and long-chain compounds.
• Quantification of PFAS was performed using advanced analytical techniques.
• Global historical breast milk PFAS data (1996-2019) were analyzed for temporal trend assessment.

Main Results:

• 16 out of 39 PFAS were detected in the analyzed breast milk samples.
• Median total PFAS concentration was 121 pg/mL, with perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) being the most abundant legacy compounds.
• Short-chain PFAS, perfluoro-n-hexanoic acid (PFHxA) and perfluoro-n-heptanoic acid (PFHpA), were frequently detected, with increasing trends.
• While PFOS and PFOA levels are declining, short-chain PFAS detection frequency is increasing.

Conclusions:

• Current-use and legacy PFAS are present in U.S. mother's breast milk, posing a risk to nursing infants.
• The increasing prevalence of short-chain PFAS suggests a shift in environmental contamination patterns.
• Continued monitoring of PFAS in breast milk is essential to understand and mitigate potential health risks for infants.