In utero PFAS exposure, inflammation, and behavioral problems in childhood

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Developmental Psychology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is a growing concern for child neurodevelopment.
• Longitudinal data on PFAS and childhood behavioral problems, including immunological links, are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the longitudinal associations between prenatal PFAS exposure and behavioral problems in children.
• To explore the potential mediating role of inflammation in these associations.

Main Methods:

• A birth-cohort study followed 264 mother-infant dyads from prenatal exposure to 10.5 years post-delivery.
• Umbilical cord blood was analyzed for 9 PFAS and 3 inflammatory markers.
• Child Behavior Checklist data were collected at multiple time points (ages 2, 3, 4, 7, and 10.5 years).
• Linear mixed-effects models and mediation analyses were employed.

Main Results:

• Higher cord blood concentrations of PFNA, PFDA, and PFUnDA were associated with increased internalizing problems at age 2.
• These associations weakened significantly as children aged, particularly for PFNA and PFDA.
• Elevated cord blood interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels mediated the link between PFNA exposure and internalizing problems.

Conclusions:

• In utero exposure to specific PFAS (PFNA, PFDA, PFUnDA) is associated with more severe internalizing problems in early childhood (ages 2-4).
• The observed associations tend to attenuate after age 7.
• Inflammation, specifically IL-6, may represent a key pathway through which PFAS impacts child development, warranting further investigation.