Effect of pregnancy on the levels of selected perfluoroalkyl compounds for females aged 17-39 years: data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2008

Abstract

The presence of perfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFC) in maternal serum may pose a risk to the developing fetus. A large-scale study to evaluate the extent of exposure to PFC in pregnant and nonpregnant females in the United States has not been conducted. The impact of pregnancy on the concentration levels of perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was assessed by analyzing data (n = 1079) from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the years 2003-2008 for females aged 17-39 yr. While pregnant females possessed lower serum concentrations of all 4 PFC than nonpregnant females, only the differences for PFOS were significant (9.6 vs. 11.8 ng/ml). Those mothers who breast-fed at least one child displayed significantly lower levels of PFOA (2.6 vs. 3.1 ng/ml) than those with non-breast-fed infants. The concentration levels of PFNA and PFOA decreased with increase in number of live births. While levels of PFHxS and PFOS markedly fell over the period 2003-2008, the levels of PFNA rose over the same time period. There was nonlinear elevation in levels of PFHxS and PFOS with age. Smoking was associated with increased levels of PFNA and PFOA. There was a significant, positive association between total cholesterol and PFOS as well as for serum albumin with PFHxS and PFOS. Elevated levels of PFNA and PFOA were associated with a rise in serum protein. Further studies are needed to adequately explain why smoking was associated with increased levels of PFNA and PFOA.