Plasma concentrations of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in pregnant women and the association with child's prenatal and postnatal growth.

Summary

High exposure to pollutants in vulnerable life stages, especially in fetal life can adversely affect the fetus and “program” disease later in life. Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) make up a large group of persistent anthropogenic chemicals used in industrial processes and commercial products over the past 60 years. PFAS are found in blood samples of Norwegian pregnant women. By using existing data from the Norwegian mother and child cohort study we will investigate how exposure to PFAS during pregnancy can affect fetal growth within a large meta-analysis of European birth cohorts. Further, we will provide knowledge on how exposure to PFAS in pregnancy can affect growth, weight development and metabolic disturbances in Norwegian children. Finally we will explore if the PFAS levels of the pregnant women are clustered in specific geographical areas around the country.