Background

Toxicological studies have raised concerns regarding the neurotoxic effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, observational evidence from human studies investigating the association between childhood PFAS and neurobehavior is limited and remains unclear.

Objectives

To examine whether childhood PFAS concentrations are associated with neurobehavior in children at age 8 years and whether child sex modifies this relationship.

Methods

We used data from 208 mother-child dyads in the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study, a prospective pregnancy and birth cohort (Cincinnati, OH, USA). We quantified PFAS in child serum at 3 and 8 years. We assessed neurobehavioral domains using the Behavior Assessment System for Children-2 at 8 years. We used multiple informant models to estimate score changes per ln-increase in repeated PFAS concentrations.

Results

Childhood PFAS were not associated with Externalizing or Internalizing Problems at 8 years. However, we noted effect measure modification by sex, with higher scores in Externalizing Problems among males per ln-unit increase in perfluorononanoate (PFNA) at 3 years (β = 4.3 points, 95% CI: 1.0, 7.7) while females had lower scores (β = −2.8 points, 95% CI: −4.7, −1.0). More Internalizing Problems were observed among males per ln-unit increase in concurrent PFNA concentrations (β = 3.7 points, 95% CI: 0.7, 6.8), but not in females (β = −1.7 points, 95% CI: −4.6, 1.2). Childhood PFNA concentrations were associated with lower scores for attention problems and activity of daily living.

Conclusion

While findings do not consistently support an association between childhood PFAS serum concentrations and neurobehavior, child sex may play a role in this relationship.

中文翻译：

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8 岁儿童儿童期暴露于全氟和多氟烷基物质 (PFAS) 和神经行为领域

背景

毒理学研究引起了人们对全氟和多氟烷基物质 ( PFAS )的神经毒性作用的担忧。然而，调查儿童 PFAS 与神经行为之间关联的人类研究的观察证据有限且仍不清楚。

目标

检查儿童 PFAS 浓度是否与 8 岁儿童的神经行为相关，以及儿童性别是否会改变这种关系。

方法

我们在健康结果和环境测量（HOME）研究中使用了来自 208 名母子的数据，该研究是一项前瞻性妊娠和分娩队列（美国俄亥俄州辛辛那提）。我们量化了 3 岁和 8 岁儿童血清中的 PFAS。我们在 8 岁时使用儿童 2 行为评估系统评估了神经行为领域。我们使用多个知情人模型来估计重复 PFAS 浓度每增加 ln 的分数变化。

结果

儿童 PFAS 与 8 岁时的外化或内化问题无关。然而，我们注意到影响测量按性别修改，男性在 3 年时每 ln 单位全氟壬酸 (PFNA) 增加的外化问题得分较高（β = 4.3 分，95% CI：1.0, 7.7），而女性得分较低（β = -2.8 点，95% CI：-4.7，-1.0）。在同时 PFNA 浓度每增加 ln 单位的男性中观察到更多内化问题（β = 3.7 点，95% CI：0.7, 6.8），但在女性中未观察到（β = -1.7 点，95% CI：-4.6, 1.2 ）。儿童 PFNA 浓度与注意力问题和日常生活活动的得分较低有关。

结论

虽然研究结果并未始终支持儿童 PFAS 血清浓度与神经行为之间的关联，但儿童性行为可能在这种关系中发挥作用。