Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 2, 2025
Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
Published on: March 6, 2018
Associations Between Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers Concentrations in Human Placenta and Small for Gestational Age in
Yi-Jun Liu1,2, Yan Xie2, Ying-Kuan Tian2
1School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Insights
Prenatal exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) was linked to a higher risk of infants being small for gestational age (SGA). This study highlights a potential environmental impact on fetal development and infant health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Reproductive Toxicology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Prenatal exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) may impact fetal growth.
- Small for gestational age (SGA) is a key indicator of fetal growth, but its association with PBDEs is understudied.
- This study investigates PBDE exposure and SGA risk in a Southwest China birth cohort.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between prenatal PBDE exposure and the risk of SGA.
- To quantify PBDE congener levels in placental samples.
- To identify specific PBDEs linked to altered fetal growth.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of eight PBDE congeners in 996 placental samples using established analytical techniques.
- Maternal characteristics collected via questionnaire; newborn outcome data from medical records.
- Statistical analysis including Mann-Whitney U test and logistic regression to assess PBDE-SGA associations.
Main Results:
- All PBDE congeners detected in over 73% of samples; median ΣPBDEs concentration 10.08 ng/g lw.
- Elevated levels of BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-209, and total ΣPBDEs observed in SGA infants.
- High ΣPBDEs levels significantly associated with increased SGA risk (OR: 2.203), consistent across genders.
Conclusions:
- Placental PBDE levels serve as a valid measure of prenatal exposure.
- Evidence suggests prenatal PBDE exposure is associated with an increased risk of SGA in this population.
- Findings contribute to understanding environmental influences on fetal development.
Background:
Prenatal exposures to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) may affect fetal growth. Small for gestational age (SGA) is a measure based on birth weight and gestational age at birth and represents a good indicator of fetal growth but it has been used only in a small number of studies. The present study aimed to examine the associations between PBDEs exposure and the risk of SGA among participants from a birth cohort in Southwest China.
Methods:
The concentrations of eight common PBDE congeners (BDE-28, BDE47, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, BDE-154, BDE-183, and BDE-209) in 996 human placental samples collected between May to October 2020 were determined. A questionnaire survey was administered regarding maternal characteristics. The outcome data of the newborns were obtained from the medical record. The Mann-Whitney U test and binomial logistic regression analysis were used to assess associations between PBDEs concentrations (as a continuous or categorical variable) and SGA.
Results:
All PBDE congeners were detected in more than 73% of samples. The median concentrations of ΣPBDEs were 10.08 ng/g lipid weight (lw). BDE-209 was the most abundant PBDE congener, contributed 28% to ΣPBDEs. There were 114 (11.4%) SGA infants. The levels of BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-209, and the total levels of ΣPBDEs in the SGA group were significantly higher than those in the controls. When classifying the PBDEs concentrations as two categories: low and high, high level of ΣPBDEs was associated with increased risk of SGA [odds ratio (OR): 2.203, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.453-3.340] after adjusting for potential covariates. The association remained significant when stratifying the data by gender of the newborn (OR: 2.572, 95% CI: 1.337-4.947 for boys; OR: 2.385, 95% CI: 1.315-4.325 for girls).
Conclusion:
The present study adds to the literature by using placenta to measure PBDEs exposure during pregnancy, and provides evidence that prenatal exposure to PBDEs may be associated with the risk of SGA, at least at the levels of exposure in our population.
More Related Videos
04:39A Modified QuEChERS-HPLC Method for Detection of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Zebrafish Embryos Exposed to Fine Particulate Matter
Published on: June 13, 2025
08:28Assessment of the Effects of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds on the Development of Vertebrate Neural Network Function Using Multi-electrode Arrays
Published on: April 26, 2018
