Exposure to PFOA and PFOS and fetal growth: a critical merging of toxicological and epidemiological data. (3rd July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Negri, Eva; Metruccio, Francesca; Guercio, Valentina; Tosti, Luca; Benfenati, Emilio; Bonzi, Rossella; La Vecchia, Carlo; Moretto, Angelo
• Is Part Of: Critical reviews in toxicology. Volume 47:Number 6(2017)
• Page Start: 489
• Page End: 515
• Publication Date: 2017-07-03
• Subjects: Birth weight -- fetal growth -- PFOA -- PFOS -- systematic review -- meta-analysis -- epidemiology -- toxicology -- perfluoroalkyls -- reproduction -- integration -- evidence; Toxicology -- Periodicals; Poisons -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Toxicology -- Periodicals; 615.9
• DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2016.1271972
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1040-8444

Abstract

Abstract: Toxicological and epidemiological evidence on the association between perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and birth/fetal weight was assessed. An extensive search for toxicological information in rats and mice, and a systematic search for epidemiological evidence were conducted. The linear regression coefficient (LRC) of birth weight (BrthW) on PFOA/PFOS was considered, and separate random effects meta-analyses for untransformed (i.e. not mathematically transformed) and log-transformed values were performed. Toxicological evidence: PFOA: 12 studies (21 datasets) in mice showed statistically significant lower birth/fetal weights from 5 mg/kg body weight per day. PFOS: most of the 13 studies (19 datasets) showed lower birth/fetal weights following in utero exposure. Epidemiological evidence: Sixteen articles were considered. The pooled LRC for a 1 ng/mL increase in untransformed PFOA (12 studies) in maternal plasma/serum was −12.8 g (95% CI −23.2; 2.4), and −27.1 g (95% CI −50.6; −3.6) for an increase of 1 loge ng/mL PFOA (nine studies). The pooled LRC for untransformed PFOS (eight studies) was −0.92 g (95%CI −3.4; 1.6), and for an increase of 1 loge ng/mL was −46.1(95% CI −80.3; −11.9). No consistent pattern emerged for study location or timing of blood sampling. Conclusions: Epidemiological and toxicological evidence suggests that PFOA and PFOS elicit a decrease in BrthW both in humans and rodents. However, the effective animal extrapolated serum concentrations are 10 2 –10 3 times higher than those in humans. Thus, there is no quantitative toxicological evidence to support the epidemiological association, thus reducing the biological plausibility of a causal relationship.