Ebel Matilda, Blomberg Annelise J, Bolmsjö Beata Borgström, Jöud Anna Saxne, Jensen Tina Kold, Nielsen Christel
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Environ Res. 2025 Mar 1;268:120787. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.120787. Epub 2025 Jan 7.
Perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are suggested to impair immune function in children. Previous studies investigating associations between prenatal PFAS exposure and common infections were performed in background-exposed populations whilst studies from high-exposed populations are lacking.
To investigate the association between prenatal PFAS exposure from contaminated drinking water and common infections in children aged 6 months to 7 years in Ronneby, Sweden.
The cohort included 17,051 children, born 2003-2013, to mothers residing in Blekinge County at least one year within the five years before childbirth. Primary care diagnoses of infections in eyes, ears, respiratory- and urinary tract were retrieved from the Blekinge Healthcare Register. The residential history of the mothers served as a proxy for prenatal exposure; very high, high, intermediate, and background. We estimated hazard ratios (HR) by Cox proportional hazards regression with the Andersen and Gill extension for recurring events.
We observed an increased risk for ear infections (HR 1.28; 95% CI 1.03-1.58) in children with very high prenatal PFAS exposure, as well as suggestive but non-significant associations with eye- and urinary tract infections. Children with intermediate prenatal exposure had a reduced risk of eye infections (HR 0.86; 95% CI 0.77-0.95). No increased risk of respiratory tract infections was observed in any of the exposure categories.
This study was the first to investigate the association between high prenatal PFAS levels and common infections diagnosed in primary care, and it adds to a growing body of evidence of the potential immunotoxicity of early-life PFAS exposure.
全氟烷基物质（PFAS）被认为会损害儿童的免疫功能。以往关于产前PFAS暴露与常见感染之间关联的研究是在背景暴露人群中进行的，而缺乏来自高暴露人群的研究。
调查瑞典罗讷比6个月至7岁儿童因受污染饮用水导致的产前PFAS暴露与常见感染之间的关联。
该队列包括17,051名儿童，他们于2003年至2013年出生，其母亲在分娩前五年内至少有一年居住在布莱金厄省。从布莱金厄医疗保健登记处获取眼睛、耳朵、呼吸道和泌尿道感染的初级保健诊断信息。母亲的居住史作为产前暴露的替代指标；分为极高、高、中、背景暴露。我们通过Cox比例风险回归及Andersen和Gill复发事件扩展模型估计风险比（HR）。
我们观察到产前PFAS暴露极高的儿童耳部感染风险增加（HR 1.28；95% CI 1.03 - 1.58），以及与眼部和泌尿道感染有提示性但不显著的关联。产前暴露中等的儿童眼部感染风险降低（HR 0.86；95% CI 0.77 - 0.95）。在任何暴露类别中均未观察到呼吸道感染风险增加。
本研究首次调查了产前PFAS高水平与初级保健中诊断的常见感染之间的关联，并为早期PFAS暴露潜在免疫毒性的越来越多的证据增添了内容。
