1. Umbilical cord blood levels of perfluoroalkyl acids and polybrominated flame retardants
- Author
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Arbuckle, Tye E., Kubwabo, Cariton, Walker, Mark, Davis, Karelyn, Lalonde, Kaela, Kosarac, Ivana, Wen, Shi Wu, and Arnold, Douglas L.
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CORD blood , *UMBILICAL cord , *PERFLUORO compounds , *FIREPROOFING agents , *POLYBROMINATED diphenyl ethers , *BIOLOGICAL monitoring - Abstract
Abstract: Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are persistent organic pollutants representing two classes of environmental contaminants of toxicological concern, especially for infants. Canadian biomonitoring data on these chemicals are limited. The objectives of this study were to measure PFAAs and PBDEs in umbilical cord blood from approximately 100 hospital deliveries in Ottawa (Ontario, Canada) and examine associations with characteristics of the mother and infant. Geometric means were 1.469ng/mL for perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) (95% confidence interval of 1.292–1.671ng/mL), 4.443ng/mL for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) (95% CI of 3.735–5.285ng/mL), 0.359ng/mL for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) (95% CI of 0.318–0.404ng/mL), and 0.579ng/mL for perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) (95% CI of 0.473–0.709ng/mL). The final multiple regression models indicated that lower gravida, term gestational age, smoking during pregnancy and vaginal delivery were significantly associated with higher levels of PFOS. Similarly, a vaginal delivery was significantly associated with higher PFOA, while weak associations were found with lower gravida and birth weight less than 2500g. Furthermore, higher PFNA concentrations were significantly associated with older mothers, and vaginal delivery, while weakly associated with term gestational age. Elevated PFHxS concentrations were significantly associated with smoking during pregnancy and lower gravida. Similar to reports from other countries, the preponderant PBDE congener measured in the cord blood was PBDE-47. Questions remain on why various studies have reported conflicting results on the association between PFAAs and birth weight. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2013
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