TY - JOUR
T1 - The transplacental transfer efficiency of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): a first meta-analysis
AU - Appel, Mareike
AU - Forsthuber, Martin
AU - Ramos, Romualdo
AU - Widhalm, Raimund
AU - Granitzer, Sebastian
AU - Uhl, Maria
AU - Hengstschläger, Markus
AU - Stamm, Tanja
AU - Gundacker, Claudia
N1 - Funding Information:
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. All individuals who contributed to this work have been listed as authors.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS), ubiquitously present in the environment and biota, are transferred to the fetus via the placenta. PFAS can be distinguished, among other things, by their different carbon chain lengths and functional groups. The aim of this study was to provide comprehensive evidence on PFAS transfer rates across the human placental barrier by means of a meta-analysis based upon a systematic review. The available literature up to April 2021 was reviewed and transplacental transfer efficiencies (TTEs) of PFAS assessed. A total of 39 studies reporting data on 20 PFAS were included in the systematic review. Of these, 20 studies with data on 19 compounds were included in the meta-analysis. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA v3.0) was used for quantitative, statistical analyses with random effects models. A curvilinear relationship was found with short and long chains of perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) exhibiting higher TTE than compounds with intermediate chain length. Among the less well studied PFAS, perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), 6:2 fluorotelomersulfonic acid (6:2 FTS) and perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) stood out the most with a high TEEs. The dependence of TTEs on chain length and functional group is clearly shown in this first meta-analysis on PFAS transfer across the human placenta. More data on effects of less well studied PFAS in pregnant women and neonates are needed to assess the potential risk for fetal exposure.
AB - Per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS), ubiquitously present in the environment and biota, are transferred to the fetus via the placenta. PFAS can be distinguished, among other things, by their different carbon chain lengths and functional groups. The aim of this study was to provide comprehensive evidence on PFAS transfer rates across the human placental barrier by means of a meta-analysis based upon a systematic review. The available literature up to April 2021 was reviewed and transplacental transfer efficiencies (TTEs) of PFAS assessed. A total of 39 studies reporting data on 20 PFAS were included in the systematic review. Of these, 20 studies with data on 19 compounds were included in the meta-analysis. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA v3.0) was used for quantitative, statistical analyses with random effects models. A curvilinear relationship was found with short and long chains of perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) exhibiting higher TTE than compounds with intermediate chain length. Among the less well studied PFAS, perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), 6:2 fluorotelomersulfonic acid (6:2 FTS) and perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) stood out the most with a high TEEs. The dependence of TTEs on chain length and functional group is clearly shown in this first meta-analysis on PFAS transfer across the human placenta. More data on effects of less well studied PFAS in pregnant women and neonates are needed to assess the potential risk for fetal exposure.
KW - Pfas meta-analysis per- and polyfluorinated substances placenta transplacental transfer efficiency
KW - Environmental Pollutants/adverse effects
KW - Pregnancy
KW - Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
KW - Humans
KW - Placenta/metabolism
KW - Female
KW - Caproates/metabolism
KW - Fluorocarbons/chemistry
KW - Environmental Exposure/adverse effects
KW - Infant, Newborn
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85121702847&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10937404.2021.2009946
DO - 10.1080/10937404.2021.2009946
M3 - Review article
C2 - 34930098
SN - 1093-7404
VL - 25
SP - 23
EP - 42
JO - Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health - Part B: Critical Reviews
JF - Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health - Part B: Critical Reviews
IS - 1
ER -