Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Growth Outcomes through Puberty: Windows of Exposure Susceptibility

摘要

Background: Emerging evidence show growth deviations associated with developmental exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), but the existence of exposure windows with increased susceptibility needs clarification. Aim: We evaluated the associations of perinatal, mid-childhood and puberty PFAS exposures with serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) and body mass index (BMI) through puberty. Methods: We examined 1393 children from two Faroese cohorts born in 1986-1987 (N=851) and 1998-2000 (N=542). PFASs were measured perinatally (cord blood or maternal serum), and in child's serum at ages 7 and 14 years. We calculated z-scores for serum-IGFl and its binding protein (IGFBP3) at age 7 using sex- and cohort-specific means, and for BMI at ages 7 and 14, using sex- and age- specific means of the CDC Growth Charts. To evaluate differences in the associations between exposure windows, we used multivariable-adjusted generalized estimating equations fitting an interaction term between PFAS and developmental stage. Results: Associations were fairly homogeneous between cohorts (P-cohort int.>0.10 for most comparisons), despite differences in exposure ranges. Boys showed patterns of negative associations that were significant only for mid-childhood PFOS and concomitant IGF1 concentrations (β[95% CI] per PFOS doubling=-0.26 [-0.49,-0.04]), and for PFHxS exposure across all periods and BMI at age 14 (β[95% CI]=-0.09 [-0.17,-0.01]). In contrast, girls mostly showed positive associations that were significant for PFOS exposure across all periods and BMI through age 14 (β[95% CI]=0.08 [0.01,0.16]) and between mid-childhood PFOS, PFHxS and PFDA and IGF1 concentrations (e.g., PFOS: β[95% CI]=0.32 [0.06,0.58]. No clear association patterns were seen for PFOA and PFNA. Conclusion: This study suggests that not only prenatal but also postnatal PFAS exposures are associated with growth through puberty, and associations differ according to the developmental stage and sex.