Ruxianguli Aimuzi1, Kai Luo1, Rong Huang2, Xiaona Huo2, Min Nian1, Fengxiu Ouyang2, Yatao Du2, Liping Feng2, Weiye Wang2, Jun Zhang3. 1. Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China; School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China. 2. Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China. 3. Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China; School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China. Electronic address: junjimzhang@sina.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The development of the embryo and fetal brain depends on maternal transfer of thyroid hormones (THs) in early pregnancy. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) may disrupt maternal TH homeostasis in pregnancy, but findings from epidemiologic studies were inconsistent. We aimed to assess this relationship in early pregnancy in a large prospective cohort study. METHODS: A total of 1885 pregnant women enrolled in the Shanghai Birth Cohort were used. Ten PFAS, free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) were measured in maternal blood collected prior to 16 weeks of gestation. Multiple linear regression accompanied by restricted cubic spline was used to examine the association and the exposure-response relationship between each PFAS and TH in separate models. Possible effect modification by TPOAb status was also investigated. RESULTS: Perfluorooctanoic acid [PFOA, β = 0.121, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.015, 0.227] and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS, β = 0.123, 95% CI: 0.024, 0.222) were positively associated with FT4. Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA, β = 0.179, 95% CI: 0.047, 0.311) and PFHxS (β = 0.197, 95% CI: 0.054, 0.339) were positively associated with FT3, while PFHxS was negatively associated with TSH (β = -0.115, 95%CI: 0.216, -0.014). TPOAb-positivity appeared to modify the associations between PFAS and THs. In TPOAb-positive women, several long-chain PFAS were positively associated with FT4 and/or FT3 and tended to be negatively associated with TSH. CONCLUSIONS: Several long-chain PFAS were associated with disrupted TH homeostasis in Chinese pregnant women, especially among TPOAb-positive women.
BACKGROUND: The development of the embryo and fetal brain depends on maternal transfer of thyroid hormones (THs) in early pregnancy. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) may disrupt maternal TH homeostasis in pregnancy, but findings from epidemiologic studies were inconsistent. We aimed to assess this relationship in early pregnancy in a large prospective cohort study. METHODS: A total of 1885 pregnant women enrolled in the Shanghai Birth Cohort were used. Ten PFAS, free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) were measured in maternal blood collected prior to 16 weeks of gestation. Multiple linear regression accompanied by restricted cubic spline was used to examine the association and the exposure-response relationship between each PFAS and TH in separate models. Possible effect modification by TPOAb status was also investigated. RESULTS:Perfluorooctanoic acid [PFOA, β = 0.121, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.015, 0.227] and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS, β = 0.123, 95% CI: 0.024, 0.222) were positively associated with FT4. Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA, β = 0.179, 95% CI: 0.047, 0.311) and PFHxS (β = 0.197, 95% CI: 0.054, 0.339) were positively associated with FT3, while PFHxS was negatively associated with TSH (β = -0.115, 95%CI: 0.216, -0.014). TPOAb-positivity appeared to modify the associations between PFAS and THs. In TPOAb-positive women, several long-chain PFAS were positively associated with FT4 and/or FT3 and tended to be negatively associated with TSH. CONCLUSIONS: Several long-chain PFAS were associated with disrupted TH homeostasis in Chinese pregnant women, especially among TPOAb-positive women.
Authors: Rahel L Birru; Hai-Wei Liang; Fouzia Farooq; Megha Bedi; Maisa Feghali; Catherine L Haggerty; Dara D Mendez; Janet M Catov; Carla A Ng; Jennifer J Adibi Journal: Environ Health Date: 2021-05-22 Impact factor: 7.123