| dc.description.abstract |
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large class of man-made chemicals
used extensively in consumer and industrial products, making them ubiquitous in the
built and natural environment. These chemicals pose a cause for concern, as there
is increasing experimental and epidemiological evidence suggesting that exposure is
associated with adverse health outcomes, especially prenatal PFAS exposure during
critical periods of development. This study explored the associations between prenatal
PFAS exposure, measured via maternal serum levels collected during pregnancy, and
childhood asthma incidence in a cohort of 155 women, and 165 of their children from
North Carolina. PFAS were detected in all serum samples and levels were similar to
those in the general population. Statistical analyses incorporated potential predictors
and covariates, including sex, age and race. After adjusting for these factors, statistically
significant associations with asthma were found. Future efforts are needed to examine
prenatal PFAS exposures and respiratory outcomes in later life.
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