Fetal Glucocorticoid Mediates the Association between Prenatal Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Exposure and Neonatal Growth Index: Evidence from a Birth Cohort Study

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08831
• Publication Date: 2023-07-26T19:14:19Z
• Authors: Dan Cai; Qing-qing Li; Zeeshan Mohammed; Wei-Chun Chou; Jinbo Huang; Minli Kong; Yanqi Xie; Yunjiang Yu; Guocheng Hu; Jianying Qi; Yang Zhou; Weihong Tan; Lizi Lin; Rongliang Qiu; Guanghui Dong; Xiao-Wen Zeng
• Keywords: Fetal growth

Glucocorticoid plays a key role in the growth and organ maturation of fetus. However, effect glucocorticoid on association between per- polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure fetal is still unknown. We detected cord cortisol (active human) 34 PFAS concentrations maternal serum samples, which were collected from 202 mother-fetus pairs Maoming Birth Cohort 2015 to 2018. The mediation neonatal index (NGI) was estimated. found that higher associated with lower NGI terms ponderal index, birth weight (BW), head circumference (HC), its z-scores (BWZ HCZ) (P < 0.05). Fetal could mediate 12.6–27.3% associations NGI. Specifically, mediated branched perfluorooctane sulfonate (branched PFOS) HCZ by 20.4% perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) 27.3%. Our findings provide first epidemiological data evincing prenatal growth. Further investigations are recommended elucidate interactions among cortisol, PFAS,