Exposure Of Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances In Cord Blood And Its Correlation With Newborn Birth Outcomes

ObjectivePer-and polyfluoroalkyl substances(PFASs)are fluorinated substances containing at least one fully fluorinated methyl or methylene carbon atom(free of H,Cl,Br,I atoms).PFASs have many unique physicochemical characteristics like amphiphobicity and thermostability,making them suitable for large number of industrial and commercial applications.Numerous studies have verified that PFASs can penetrate the placental barrier and reach embryos through umbilical cord blood,resulting in adverse health effects and birth outcomes of fetuses.Thus,this study aim:(1)to establish an analytical workflow for the qualification and quantification of potential PFASs in cord blood samples based on the mass spectrometry;(2)to explore the correlation between PFASs exposure with maternal characteristics and birth outcome of newborns.MethodThe cord blood samples were obtained from 326 pregnant women who gave birth in a hospital in Jinan City,Shandong Province,China.General information of the participants was collected by standardized questionnaires.Cord blood sample preparation was conducted using a quick,easy,cheap,effective,rugged,and safe(Qu ECh ERS)method.The ultra-high performance liquid chromatography couple to high resolution mass spectrometry(UPLC-HRMS)instrumental method was developed for sample analysis.An analytical workflow combining target,suspect,and nontarget screening was established to qualify and quantify potential PFASs in cord blood samples.Correlations between maternal demographic characteristics(e.g.,age,height,weight,and parity)and PFASs concentrations were analyzed using nonparametric tests.Multiple linear regression(MLR)models were constructed to examine the associations of prenatal exposure to each PFAS with newborn birth outcomes.ResultScreening and identification of the PFASs in cord blood.An integrated analytical workflow combining target,suspect,and nontarget screening was established in our study.Totally,16 traditional PFASs and 12 novel PFASs were identified in umbilical cord blood samples of the studied pregnant women.Perfluoropolyether carboxylic acids(PFECAs),hydrogen-substituted polyfluoroetherpropane sulfate(1H-PFEPr S)and 3:3 chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether alcohol(3:3 Cl-PFEOH)were firstly identified in our study.The presence of two Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD)defined PFASs(OECD-PFASs),namely fipronil sulfone and 2-chloro-6-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-3-ol was confirmed.The levels of the emerging and legacy PFASs in cord blood samples.Quantification results showed that the emerging and OECD-PFASs separately accounted for 9.4 and9.7% of the total quantified PFASs.The legacy PFASs,such as perfluorooctanoic acid(PFOA),perfluorooctane sulfonic acid(PFOS),and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid(PFHx S),were still the most abundant PFASs in the cord blood samples with median concentrations of 2.12,0.58,and 0.37 ng/m L,respectively.The correlation analysis of maternal demographic characteristics and newborn birth outcomes with the concentration of PFASs in cord blood samples.Results showed that the C9–C12 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids(PFCAs),C6–C8 perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids(PFSAs),and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonic acids(6:2 Cl-PFESA)showed significantly higher levels for older maternities than younger ones.The levels of PFOA and 1H-PFEPr S in the multiparous group was significantly lower than that in the primiparous group.PFHx S levels were positively associated with birth weight and ponderal index(PI)(p = 0.04).Perfluorotetradecanoic acid(PFTe DA)levels were positively associated with birth length(p = 0.03).3:3 Cl-PFEOH levels were positively associated with PI(p = 0.02).ConclusionAn integrated analytical workflow combining target,suspect,and nontarget screening was established to qualify and quantify potential PFASs in cord blood samples.Novel PFASs including series of PFECAs,1H-PFEPr S,and 3:3 Cl-PFEOH were firstly identified in our study.The levels of PFOA,6:2 Cl-PFESA and 1H-PFEPr S exposure in cord blood gradually changed with the increase of maternal age and parity.A statistically significant association between exposure levels of PFHx S and PFTe DA in cord blood and neonatal birth outcomes.The results provide comprehensive internal exposure information on the presence and exposure risks of PFASs during the early life stage.