Associations between self-reported consumption of foods and serum PFAS concentrations in a sample of pregnant women in the United States

Abstract

Data from the National Children's Study (NCS) Initial Vanguard pilot study (IVS) provided an opportunity to assess relationships between environmental and other exposures and maternal and children's health. Women who participated in the IVS pilot generally had at least one home visit during pregnancy to collect biomonitoring specimens, environmental samples, and questionnaire data. Serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) including Perfluorooctanoic acid, Perfluorooctanesulfonate, Perfluorononanoic acid, Perfluorohexanesulfonate, Perfluorodecanoic acid, and 2-(N-Methyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetate (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, PFDA, Me-PFOSA-AcOH, respectively) were analyzed in serum samples from 374 women who also completed a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to investigate associations between food consumption during pregnancy and PFAS exposure. Tests of difference were performed between participants who reported either having eaten or not eaten particular types of foods within the 3 months prior to pregnancy. Serum levels of PFHxS, PFNA, and PFDA were positively significantly associated with consumption of several foods. For example, increased frequency of shellfish consumption and increased proportion of seafood in the diet were both associated with significantly higher concentrations of PFNA and PFDA. Consumption of potatoes, soft drinks, beef mixtures, bagels, English muffins, and cold cereals were positively significantly associated with serum levels of PFHxS. Me-PFOSA-AcOH significantly decreased with increasing frequency of consumption of sweet peppers, non-fried fish, and tofu. Clustered dietary patterns show chemicals in serum had statistically significant (p < 0.1) associations with Me-PFOSA-AcOH, PFDA, and PFHxS. These results indicated that some foods eaten by pregnant women may have contributed to the levels of PFAS in their blood.