Perfluorinated Alkyl Acids in Blood Serum from Primiparous Women in Sweden: Serial Sampling during Pregnancy and Nursing, And Temporal Trends 1996–2010
Abstract
We investigated temporal trends of blood serum levels of 13 perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs) and perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA) in primiparous women (N = 413) from Uppsala County, Sweden, sampled 3 weeks after delivery 1996-2010. Levels of the short-chain perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) increased 11%/y and 8.3%/y, respectively, and levels of the long-chain perfluorononanoate (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoate (PFDA) increased 4.3%/y and 3.8%/y, respectively. Concomitantly, levels of FOSA (22%/y), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS, 8.4%/y), perfluorodecane sulfonate (PFDS, 10%/y), and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA, 3.1%/y) decreased. Thus, one or several sources of exposure to the latter compounds have been reduced or eliminated, whereas exposure to the former compounds has recently increased. We explored if maternal levels of PFOS, PFOA, and PFNA during the early nursing period are representative for the fetal development period, using serial maternal serum samples, including cord blood (N = 19). PFAA levels in maternal serum sampled during pregnancy and the nursing period as well as in cord blood were strongly correlated. Strongest correlations between cord blood levels and maternal levels were observed for maternal serum sampled shortly before or after the delivery (r = 0.70-0.89 for PFOS and PFOA). A similar pattern was observed for PFNA, although the correlations were less strong due to levels close to the method detection limit in cord blood.
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A study conducted in Sweden found an increase in the levels of PFBS and PFHxS in the blood serum of pregnant women from 1996 to 2010.
“Notably, a study conducted in Sweden found an increase in the levels of perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)—two alternative PFAS compounds—in the blood serum of pregnant women from 1996 to 2010 [16].”
From The EU’s Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Ban: A Case of Policy over Science (2023) · cites this paper as [16]
The levels of some fluorinated alternatives or their degradation products, such as PFBS or PFBA, have been rising in recent years in the environment and human tissues in Europe.
“The levels of some fluorinated alternatives or their degradation products, such as perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) or perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), have been shown to be rising in recent years in the environment and human tissues in Europe (Glynn et al., 2012;Ahrens, 2011;Kirchgeorg et al., 2013).”
From Helsingør Statement on poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) (2014) · cites this paper as Glynn et al., 2012
Levels of PFOS and PFOA in human blood samples have declined in many Western countries as a consequence of phase-out actions and regulations.
“As a consequence of phase-out actions and regulations, levels of PFOS and PFOA in human blood samples have now declined in many Western countries (Glynn et al., 2012;Kato et al., 2011;Harada et al., 2010;Yeung et al., 2013a).”
From Helsingør Statement on poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) (2014) · cites this paper as Glynn et al., 2012
PFCAs with longer perfluorinated chains than PFOA (8 or more perfluoroalkyl carbons) have not yet shown signs of decline in human blood samples globally.
“However, PFCAs with longer perfluorinated chains than PFOA, with 8 or more perfluoroalkyl carbons, have not yet shown signs of decline in human blood samples globally (Kato et al., 2011;Glynn et al., 2012;Yeung et al., 2013b).”
From Helsingør Statement on poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) (2014) · cites this paper as Glynn et al., 2012
KEMI raised concerns about increasing concentrations of short-chain substances such as PFBS.
“In later discussions KEMI raised concerns about increasing concentrations of short-chain substances such as PFBS [62].”
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- Authors
- Glynn, A., Berger, U., Bignert, A., Ullah, S., Aune, M., Lignell, S., & Darnerud, P. O.
- Affiliations
- National Food Administration (SE)
- Stockholm University (SE)
- Swedish Museum of Natural History (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Glynn, Anders
- Venue
- Environmental Science & Technology
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2012-08-10
- Volume
- 46
- Issue
- 16
- Pages
- 9071-9079
- ISSN
- 0013-936X (ISSN-L)
- 1520-5851
- OpenAlex
- W2055564344
- Cited by
- 417
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 47 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 40 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 28 · 2015: 50 · 2014: 29 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 28.56
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Environmental Science & Technology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmaceutical Science › Fluorine in Organic Chemistry
- Keywords
- perfluoroalkyl acids, perfluorooctane sulfonamide, perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOS, PFBS, PFHxS, perfluorononanoate, temporal trends, primiparous women, maternal serum, umbilical cord blood, breastfeeding, pregnancy, fetal development, exposure reduction, persistent organic pollutants
- MeSH terms
- Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid, Female, Fluorocarbons, Humans, Lactation, Pregnancy, Sulfonic Acids, Sweden, Tandem Mass Spectrometry
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