PFAS in first-time mothers from Sweden: temporal trends and the impact from fish/seafood consumption and drinking water exposure
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS)-contaminated drinking water has been a significant source of human exposure to PFAS in Uppsala, Sweden. Herein, we investigated temporal trends of PFAS in serum samples collected three weeks after delivery from first-time mothers in Uppsala (1996–2022; n = 8...
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Environment International |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025004222 |
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| author | Irina Gyllenhammar Jonathan P. Benskin Merle Plassmann Martin Kruså Philip McCleaf Pernilla Hedvall Kallerman Erik Lampa Anders Glynn |
| author_facet | Irina Gyllenhammar Jonathan P. Benskin Merle Plassmann Martin Kruså Philip McCleaf Pernilla Hedvall Kallerman Erik Lampa Anders Glynn |
| author_sort | Irina Gyllenhammar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS)-contaminated drinking water has been a significant source of human exposure to PFAS in Uppsala, Sweden. Herein, we investigated temporal trends of PFAS in serum samples collected three weeks after delivery from first-time mothers in Uppsala (1996–2022; n = 869), to determine whether efforts to remediate drinking water contamination have reduced maternal PFAS exposure. In addition, the impact of fish/seafood consumption as an exposure source was evaluated. PFAS were analysed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and temporal trends were evaluated using adjusted cubic spline models.Linear (lin) and branched (br) perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluoroctanoate (PFOA) showed declining temporal trends, likely due to international regulation and phase-out initiatives. Later initiatives to restrict use and emissions of perfluorononanoate (PFNA), perfluorodecanoate (PFDA) and perfluoroundecanoate (PFUnDA) likely explained the initial increased concentrations by 3–7% per year, up to 2007 or 2010, followed by decreasing trends, on average 2–3% per year. Drinking water contamination was likely responsible for the increase in serum br and lin perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) concentrations early in the study period, followed by a decline over the last decade associated with remediation of the drinking water contamination around 2012. However, even after remediation, drinking water appeared to contribute to perfluoropentanesulfonate (PFPeS) and PFHxS. Fish/seafood consumption was significantly associated with serum levels of lin PFOS, PFNA, PFDA, and PFUnDA.Overall, PFAS exposure among first-time mothers in Uppsala has declined, resulting in a marked reduction in the proportion of mothers exceeding the serum reference value established by the European Food Safety Authority. Nevertheless, 54% of the mothers sampled from 2018 to 2022 still exceeded this level, showing that efforts to reduce PFAS exposure must continue for many years to come. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bf051b4f591e42d19d282a340e1a02e4 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0160-4120 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Environment International |
| spelling | doaj-art-bf051b4f591e42d19d282a340e1a02e42025-08-20T02:37:10ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202025-08-0120210967110.1016/j.envint.2025.109671PFAS in first-time mothers from Sweden: temporal trends and the impact from fish/seafood consumption and drinking water exposureIrina Gyllenhammar0Jonathan P. Benskin1Merle Plassmann2Martin Kruså3Philip McCleaf4Pernilla Hedvall Kallerman5Erik Lampa6Anders Glynn7Division of Risk and Benefit Assessment, Swedish Food Agency, Box 622, 751 26 Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7023, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden; Corresponding author at: Division of Risk and Benefit Assessment, Swedish Food Agency, Box 622, 751 26 Uppsala, Sweden.Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), 106 91 Stockholm University, SwedenDepartment of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), 106 91 Stockholm University, SwedenDepartment of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), 106 91 Stockholm University, SwedenUppsala Vatten och Avfall, Box 1444, 751 44 Uppsala, SwedenDivision of Risk and Benefit Assessment, Swedish Food Agency, Box 622, 751 26 Uppsala, SwedenEpistat AB, Dag Hammarskjölds Väg 10C, 752 37 Uppsala, SwedenDepartment of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7023, 750 07 Uppsala, SwedenPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS)-contaminated drinking water has been a significant source of human exposure to PFAS in Uppsala, Sweden. Herein, we investigated temporal trends of PFAS in serum samples collected three weeks after delivery from first-time mothers in Uppsala (1996–2022; n = 869), to determine whether efforts to remediate drinking water contamination have reduced maternal PFAS exposure. In addition, the impact of fish/seafood consumption as an exposure source was evaluated. PFAS were analysed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and temporal trends were evaluated using adjusted cubic spline models.Linear (lin) and branched (br) perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluoroctanoate (PFOA) showed declining temporal trends, likely due to international regulation and phase-out initiatives. Later initiatives to restrict use and emissions of perfluorononanoate (PFNA), perfluorodecanoate (PFDA) and perfluoroundecanoate (PFUnDA) likely explained the initial increased concentrations by 3–7% per year, up to 2007 or 2010, followed by decreasing trends, on average 2–3% per year. Drinking water contamination was likely responsible for the increase in serum br and lin perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) concentrations early in the study period, followed by a decline over the last decade associated with remediation of the drinking water contamination around 2012. However, even after remediation, drinking water appeared to contribute to perfluoropentanesulfonate (PFPeS) and PFHxS. Fish/seafood consumption was significantly associated with serum levels of lin PFOS, PFNA, PFDA, and PFUnDA.Overall, PFAS exposure among first-time mothers in Uppsala has declined, resulting in a marked reduction in the proportion of mothers exceeding the serum reference value established by the European Food Safety Authority. Nevertheless, 54% of the mothers sampled from 2018 to 2022 still exceeded this level, showing that efforts to reduce PFAS exposure must continue for many years to come.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025004222PFAASerumDeterminantsTrendWomen |
| spellingShingle | Irina Gyllenhammar Jonathan P. Benskin Merle Plassmann Martin Kruså Philip McCleaf Pernilla Hedvall Kallerman Erik Lampa Anders Glynn PFAS in first-time mothers from Sweden: temporal trends and the impact from fish/seafood consumption and drinking water exposure Environment International PFAA Serum Determinants Trend Women |
| title | PFAS in first-time mothers from Sweden: temporal trends and the impact from fish/seafood consumption and drinking water exposure |
| title_full | PFAS in first-time mothers from Sweden: temporal trends and the impact from fish/seafood consumption and drinking water exposure |
| title_fullStr | PFAS in first-time mothers from Sweden: temporal trends and the impact from fish/seafood consumption and drinking water exposure |
| title_full_unstemmed | PFAS in first-time mothers from Sweden: temporal trends and the impact from fish/seafood consumption and drinking water exposure |
| title_short | PFAS in first-time mothers from Sweden: temporal trends and the impact from fish/seafood consumption and drinking water exposure |
| title_sort | pfas in first time mothers from sweden temporal trends and the impact from fish seafood consumption and drinking water exposure |
| topic | PFAA Serum Determinants Trend Women |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025004222 |
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