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The Association between Prenatal Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Respiratory Tract Infections in

Haiyun Huang1, Xiaojun Li2, Yican Deng1

  • 1School of Medicine and Health, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China.

Toxics
|November 24, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) is linked to respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in children. Specific PFASs and their mixtures show positive associations with tonsillitis and common cold frequency.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Health
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are widespread environmental contaminants.
  • Prenatal exposure to environmental chemicals is a growing concern for child health.
  • Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are common in preschool children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between prenatal PFAS exposure and RTIs in preschool children.
  • To identify specific PFASs linked to increased incidence and frequency of RTIs.
  • To assess the combined effect of PFAS mixtures on RTIs.

Main Methods:

  • Study included 527 mother-infant pairs from the Wuhan Healthy Baby Cohort (WHBC).
  • Ten PFASs were measured in umbilical cord serum.
  • RTIs data collected via questionnaire; statistical analyses included Logistic, Poisson, and Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) regression.

Main Results:

  • Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoDA) associated with tonsillitis incidence; PFTrDA linked to common cold frequency.
  • PFAS mixture showed positive associations with tonsillitis incidence, common cold frequency, and episodes.
  • Key contributors to mixture effect included PFUnDA, PFDoDA, PFTrDA, PFDA, and 8:2 Cl-PFESA.

Conclusions:

  • Both single and mixed prenatal PFAS exposures may contribute to RTIs in preschool children.
  • Specific PFASs like PFDoDA and PFTrDA are implicated in tonsillitis and common cold.
  • No significant sex-specific associations were observed between PFASs and RTIs.

Keywords:
cohort studycord bloodper- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)pregnant womenpreschool childrenrespiratory tract infections (RTIs)

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