Comprehensive analysis of transplacental transfer of environmental pollutants detected in paired maternal and cord serums

Ke-Yu Yuan; Yao-Hua Gu; Yi-Hao Pei; Si-Yu Yu; Tian-Zhou Li; Tian Feng; Yu Liu; Jianbo Tian; Xiaoping Miao; Jun Xiong; Min Hu; Bi-Feng Yuan

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136970

Comprehensive analysis of transplacental transfer of environmental pollutants detected in paired maternal and cord serums

J Hazard Mater. 2024 Dec 24:486:136970. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136970. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Ke-Yu Yuan¹, Yao-Hua Gu², Yi-Hao Pei³, Si-Yu Yu³, Tian-Zhou Li³, Tian Feng³, Yu Liu³, Jianbo Tian¹, Xiaoping Miao¹, Jun Xiong⁴, Min Hu⁵, Bi-Feng Yuan⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Research Center of Public Health, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China.
² Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; School of Nursing, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
³ Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
⁴ Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China. Electronic address: jxiong@whu.edu.cn.
⁵ Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China. Electronic address: huminmmmmm@whu.edu.cn.
⁶ Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Research Center of Public Health, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention & NHC Specialty Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment and Standard Development, Wuhan 430079, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Biomass Resource Chemistry and Environmental Biotechnology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China. Electronic address: bfyuan@whu.edu.cn.

PMID: 39740555
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136970

Abstract

Prenatal exposure to hazardous environmental pollutants is a critical global concern due to their confirmed presence in umbilical cord blood, indicating the ability of pollutants to cross the placental barrier and expose the fetus to harmful compounds. However, the transplacental transfer efficiencies (TTEs) of many pollutants remain underexplored. Herein, we developed a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to quantitatively analyze 91 environmental pollutants, including 13 bisphenols (BPs), 18 organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs), 7 brominated and other flame retardants (BFRs), 34 phthalates (PAEs), and 19 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), in paired maternal and cord serums. 38 pollutants were detected in serums, including 5 BPs, 13 OPFRs, 2 BFRs, 4 PAEs, and 14 PFASs. Among the detected pollutants, bisphenol A (BPA) exists in the highest concentration (GM: 10.92 ng/mL in maternal serums and 12.66 ng/mL in cord serums), followed by tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and 4,4'-(1,3-phenylenediisopropylidene) bisphenol (BPM). The exposure concentrations of the same type of pollutants were highly correlated between maternal and cord serums. Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) had the highest TTE value (5.526), while perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) had the lowest (0.206). TTEs of PFOS and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) were higher for female newborns, whereas TTEs of perfluorohexadecanoic acid (PFHxDA) and perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (PFDS) were higher for male newborns. Moreover, the expression levels of the transplacental transporters ABCA1, ABCC2, ABCC3, ABCC4, ABCG1, SLCO3A1, and SLC22A3 were associated with the transplacental transfer of triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), TDCIPP, di-n-propyl phthalate (DPRP), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA), and PFOS. Further research is essential to unveil the mechanisms involved in the transplacental transfer of environmental pollutants, ultimately boosting our comprehension of their impact on fetal health and birth outcomes.

Keywords: Bisphenols; Cesarean section; Flame retardants; Mass spectrometry; Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances; Phthalates; Placental transporters; Transplacental transfer efficiency.