Identifying Risk Factors for Levels of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Placenta in a High-Risk Pregnancy Cohort in North Carolina

Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances (PFAS),
a ubiquitous class of chemicals, is associated with adverse outcomes
such as pre-eclampsia, low infant birth weight, and later-life adiposity.
The objectives of this study were to examine PFAS levels in the placenta
and identify sociodemographic risk factors in a high-risk pregnancy
cohort (n = 122) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Of concern, PFOS, PFHxS, PFHpS, and PFUnA were detected above the
reporting limit in 99, 75, 55, and 49% of placentas, respectively.
Maternal race/ethnicity was associated with significant differences
in PFUnA levels. While the data from this high-risk cohort did not
provide evidence for an association with hypertensive disorders of
pregnancy, fetal growth, or gestational age, the prevalence of detectable
PFAS in the placenta suggests a need to biomonitor for exposure to
PFAS during pregnancy. Future research should investigate factors
underlying the differences in PFAS levels in association with a mother’s
race/ethnicity, as well as potential effects on pregnancy and child
health.