Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2025
Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development
Published on: May 17, 2024
Gestational PFAS exposure and newborn size: The modifying effect of cord blood fatty acids
Chang Gao1,2,3,4, Lin Luo1,2,3,4, Yijun Fan5
1Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230031, China.
Insights
Gestational exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) can reduce newborn size, but cord blood fatty acids may offer protection. Emerging short-chain PFASs are key drivers of this adverse effect.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Developmental Toxicology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are environmental contaminants known to disrupt lipid metabolism.
- Previous studies suggest a link between gestational PFAS exposure and reduced newborn size, but findings are inconsistent.
- The role of fetal nutritional status, specifically fatty acid composition, in modifying this association remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mitigating effect of cord blood fatty acids on the association between gestational PFAS exposure and newborn size.
- To identify specific PFAS types contributing to reduced newborn size.
- To explore potential nutritional strategies for counteracting adverse developmental effects of PFASs.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of cord blood samples from newborns to assess fatty acid composition and PFAS levels.
- Statistical modeling to evaluate the interaction between PFAS exposure, fatty acid levels, and newborn size metrics.
- Comparison of effects between legacy and emerging short-chain PFASs.
Main Results:
- Fetal nutritional status, indicated by cord blood fatty acids, significantly mitigates the negative impact of gestational PFAS exposure on newborn size.
- Emerging short-chain PFASs were identified as primary contributors to reduced newborn size, even at lower exposure levels than legacy PFASs.
- A protective role of specific cord blood fatty acids against PFAS-induced developmental effects was observed.
Conclusions:
- Cord blood fatty acid levels can modify the adverse effects of gestational PFAS exposure on newborn size.
- Emerging short-chain PFASs pose a significant developmental risk and warrant further toxicological evaluation.
- Nutritional interventions targeting fetal fatty acid status may offer a strategy to mitigate environmental exposure risks during pregnancy.
Abstract:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) can disrupt lipid metabolism, and changes in cord blood fatty acid composition have been observed in small newborns. Emerging evidence suggests that exposure to PFASs during pregnancy is linked to decreased newborn size, although the evidence is not consistent. The modifying effect of fatty acids on the associations of gestational PFAS exposure with newborn size is still unknown. Here we show that the nutritional status of the fetus, as indicated by the level of fatty acids in the cord blood, mitigates the adverse effects of gestational PFAS exposure on the size of the newborn. Our study confirms the adverse developmental effects of PFASs and identifies emerging short-chain PFASs as the primary drivers of reduced newborn size, despite their lower exposure burden compared to legacy PFASs. Additionally, we find the protective role of cord blood fatty acids, suggesting potential strategies for mitigating the detrimental effects of emerging environmental exposures on human health. Our findings provide new evidence of the potential toxicity of emerging PFASs and call for further toxicity evaluations of these pollutants for regulatory purposes. Future studies should consider the complex interaction between exposure and nutrition within the human body, particularly during the first thousand days of life, to promote lifelong health.
