Joint effects of prenatal exposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances and psychosocial stressors on corticotropin-releasing hormone during pregnancy

Stephanie M Eick; Dana E Goin; Lara Cushing; Erin DeMicco; Sabrina Smith; June-Soo Park; Amy M Padula; Tracey J Woodruff; Rachel Morello-Frosch

doi:10.1038/s41370-021-00322-8

Joint effects of prenatal exposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances and psychosocial stressors on corticotropin-releasing hormone during pregnancy

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2022 Jan;32(1):27-36. doi: 10.1038/s41370-021-00322-8. Epub 2021 Apr 6.

Authors

Stephanie M Eick¹, Dana E Goin², Lara Cushing³, Erin DeMicco², Sabrina Smith⁴, June-Soo Park⁴, Amy M Padula², Tracey J Woodruff², Rachel Morello-Frosch^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. stephanie.eick@ucsf.edu.
² Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
³ Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁴ Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Toxic Substances Control, California Environmental Protection Agency, Berkeley, CA, USA.
⁵ Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. rmf@berkeley.edu.
⁶ Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management and School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA. rmf@berkeley.edu.

Abstract

Background: Prenatal exposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and psychosocial stressors has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth. Previous studies have suggested that joint exposure to environmental chemical and social stressors may be contributing to disparities observed in preterm birth. Elevated corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) during mid-gestation may represent one biologic mechanism linking chemical and nonchemical stress exposures to preterm birth.

Methods: Using data from a prospective birth cohort (N = 497), we examined the cross-sectional associations between five individual PFAS (ng/mL; PFNA, PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, and Me-PFOSA-AcOH) and CRH (pg/mL) using linear regression. PFAS and CRH were measured during the second trimester in serum and plasma, respectively. Coefficients were standardized to reflect change in CRH associated with an interquartile range (IQR) increase in natural log-transformed PFAS. We additionally examined if the relationship between PFAS and CRH was modified by psychosocial stress using stratified models. Self-reported depression, stressful life events, perceived stress, food insecurity, and financial strain were assessed using validated questionnaires during the second trimester and included as binary indicators of psychosocial stress.

Results: An IQR increase in PFNA was associated with elevated CRH (β = 5.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.79, 8.55). Increased concentrations of PFOA were also moderately associated with CRH (β = 3.62, 95% CI = -0.42, 7.66). The relationship between PFNA and CRH was stronger among women who experienced stressful life events, depression, food insecurity, and financial strain compared to women who did not experience these stressors.

Conclusions: This cross-sectional study is the first to examine the relationship between PFAS exposure and CRH levels in mid-gestation. We found that these associations were stronger among women who experienced stress, which aligns with previous findings that chemical and nonchemical stressor exposures can have joint effects on health outcomes.

Keywords: Health disparities; Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances; Pregnancy; Stress.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Pregnancy
Premature Birth* / psychology
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects*
Prospective Studies

Substances

Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding