Assessment of fetal exposure and maternal elimination of perfluoroalkyl substances

Abstract

In this study, we estimated the body burden (BB) of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in a fetus at the time of delivery, and elimination of PFASs in female adults during pregnancy; and explored the isomer branching pattern-related placental transfer of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). The mean BB of PFASs were 3980 ng for PFOS and 2320 ng for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), therefore, the average daily exposure doses via placental transfer were estimated to be 13.7 and 8.32 ng per day for PFOS and PFOA, respectively, by dividing the BB of PFASs by gestational age. The total daily elimination of PFOS and PFOA in female adults through pregnancy was 30.1 and 11.4 ng per day, which indicates that pregnancy and child birth may reduce the PFASs levels in female adults. Further, branched PFOS was more readily transferred through the placenta than linear PFOS.