Glyphosate, a widely used herbicide, has been linked to endocrine and metabolic disruption, but its association with obesity remains unclear. This study examined the relationship between urinary glyphosate levels and obesity metrics, as well as the mediating role of oxidative stress biomarkers. Using NHANES 2013-2018 data from 1,830 adults, weighted logistic and linear regressions were conducted to assess associations between glyphosate concentrations and BMI, waist circumference, and obesity risk. Restricted cubic splines tested dose-response trends, and subgroup interactions were evaluated. Mediation analysis explored the roles of gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and serum albumin. Higher urinary glyphosate levels were inversely associated with BMI (beta = -1.50; 95% CI: -2.95, -0.05) and waist circumference (beta = -3.25; 95% CI: -6.58, 0.08). Compared to the lowest tertile, T3 showed significantly lower BMI and waist circumference, and obesity risk was lower in T2 (OR = 0.90) and T3 (OR = 0.88) (p < 0.05). No nonlinear trends were found, although interactions were observed among alcohol users and low-income groups. GGT and serum albumin partially mediated these associations, with mediation proportions up to 24% and 36%, respectively. These findings suggest that urinary glyphosate levels are inversely associated with obesity indicators, partly through oxidative stress pathways.

The essential elements, is basal components for body, raising concerns about semen quality. This study evaluated the potential correlations between concentrations of essential element mixtures with semen quality. 873 volunteers were recruited from the human sperm bank in Shanghai, China. Linear regression models, restricted cubic spline (RCS), quantile g-computation (QGC), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were performed to assess the associations of single and multiple essential elements with semen quality. The findings indicated that Mo is positively correlated with sperm progressive motility; V is negatively correlated with semen volume and total sperm count; Cu is negatively correlated with sperm concentration in linear regression model. Furthermore, BKMR model showed that essential element mixture was negatively correlated with normal sperm morphology, semen volume and total sperm count, respectively. These findings suggested V and Cu might exert potential harmful to semen quality. Further prospective studies are needed to verify this exploratory finding.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants; however, their long-term neurodevelopmental effects following prenatal exposure remain incompletely characterized. This study examined associations between prenatal PFAS exposure and longitudinal neurodevelopment from birth to age 7 years old, with attention to sex-specific effects and thyroid hormone-mediated pathways. Using data from the Laizhou Wan Birth Cohort, 221 mother-infant pairs with at least three neurodevelopmental assessments were included. PFAS concentrations were quantified in cord blood at delivery, and neurodevelopment was evaluated using validated instruments. Generalized Linear Mixed-Effects Models and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression were applied. Prenatal exposure to perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) (OR = 3.76, 95% CI: 1.10-11.24) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (OR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.01-4.62) was associated with below-average neurodevelopment. Female offspring showed greater sensitivity to PFHxS exposure (OR = 6.73, 95% CI: 1.19-38.19). Mediation analyses indicated that thyroid hormone disruption may partially mediate these associations, with stronger effects observed in females. Associations were most evident at ages 1-2 years. These findings suggest that prenatal PFAS exposure is associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes and highlight thyroid hormone disruption and sex-specific susceptibility during early childhood.

Background It has been reported that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in cord serum are closely associated with birth outcomes. However, the associations vary inconsistently across different studies. To summarize the relationships between cord serum PFAS and birth outcomes, a meta-analysis was performed. Methods The characteristics of the studies, β values and 95 % confidence intervals were extracted. A random effects model or a fixed effects model was selected for analysis based on the I2 value. Subgroup analyses were applied to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Results We included 22 eligible studies in this meta-analysis. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in cord serum was positively related to gestational age (β = 0.10; 95 % CI: 0.00, 0.19; P < 0.05). Cord serum perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) was positively associated with birth length and head circumference, with corresponding values of 0.18 (95 % CI: 0.10, 0.26; P < 0.05) and 0.07 (95 %CI: 0.01, 0.14; P < 0.05), respectively. Cord serum perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFDA) was significantly associated with birth length (β = 0.15; 95 % CI: 0.04, 0.27; P < 0.05). Based on the subgroup analysis, it was found that the associations between PFOA exposure and birth weight, between PFNA and birth length, and between PFOS and head circumference were more pronounced at high dose levels. Conclusions This meta-analysis demonstrates that PFAS concentrations in cord serum are significantly associated with gestational age, as well as neonatal head circumference and birth length. However, whether these findings might translate into an elevated risk of abnormal birth outcomes associated with PFAS concentration in cord serum warrants further investigation.

In this paper, we introduce StatCite, a large-scale citation network dataset covering publications in statistics and data science from 1981 to 2025. The dataset contains 189,101 research articles collected from 62 representative journals and provides bibliographic metadata, including title, author list, publisher, published year, abstract, keywords, and reference list. Based on the collected publications, we construct four complementary citation-based networks, namely the paper citation network, the co-citation network, the bibliographic coupling network, and the journal citation network. To illustrate the utility of the dataset, we present descriptive analyses of the constructed networks and investigate the community structure of the paper citation network. The results show that StatCite preserves key structural characteristics commonly observed in large-scale citation networks and captures several major research areas in statistics and data science. By integrating multiple network representations with rich textual metadata, StatCite provides a valuable resource for statistical analysis, knowledge discovery, and data-driven studies of scientific literature.

Previous studies indicate pesticides may disrupt female reproductive hormone levels. However, the combined effects of multiclass pesticides on these hormones and whether different types exert distinct effects in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) remain unclear. Thus, we examined associations between combined multiclass pesticide exposure and reproductive hormone levels in ART women. The study included 462 women enrolled in the sub-cohort of the China National Birth Cohort between July 2017 and December 2018. Blood and urine samples were collected before ART treatment. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) were obtained from medical records. Urine was quantified for organophosphates (OPs), pyrethroids (PYRs), neonicotinoids (NEOs), and their metabolites. Using hierarchical bayesian kernel machine regression models we found combined exposure to multiclass pesticides was associated with increased FSH (-12.35%, 95% CI: -22.41%, -0.97% for 30th vs. 50th percentile) and decreased AMH (-15.74%, 95% CI: -28.83%, -0.25% for 75th vs. 50th percentile) levels. 4-fluoro-3-phenoxybenzoic acid (4F-3PBA, a PYR metabolite, condPIP = 0.79) and nitenpyram (NIT, a NEO metabolite, condPIP = 0.45) contributed most to elevated FSH and reduced AMH levels, respectively. Furthermore, OPs and PYRs were mainly associated with increased FSH, and NEOs with decreased AMH. Our study suggests that combined exposure to multiclass pesticides may adversely affect female reproductive function.

BACKGROUND:Dietary intake, especially foods of animal-origin, is an important source of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure to the general population. However, the distribution of legacy and emerging PFAS in different food categories is unclear, as well as their potential health risk for children. OBJECTIVES:To investigate dietary sources of PFAS and evaluate the risk for 7-year-old children in Laizhou Wan, a region with high PFAS exposure in Shandong, China. METHODS:We sampled participants from the Laizhou Wan Birth Cohort study. We administered a dietary questionnaire to the parents of 7-year-old children and measured PFAS compounds in the serum of the children (n = 154) and meat and seafood samples (n = 45). We calculated the Mann-Whitney U test to compare serum PFAS levels between children who frequently consumed a specific type of marine fish or shrimp/shellfish and those who did not. Children's dietary PFAS intake was calculated through multiplying food consumption and PFAS concentrations, and health risks were assessed by comparing the intake of PFAS with health-based guideline values. RESULTS:In seafood, perfluorooctanic acid (PFOA) (0.52 ng/g wet weight (ww)), perfluoro-6-methylheptanesulfonic acid (iso-PFOS) (0.02 ng/g ww), and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluoroethersulfonic acid (0.06 ng/g ww) had the highest median concentrations among 10 linear PFAS, 8 branched isomers of PFOA and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and 3 alternatives, respectively. Particularly, PFOA levels (median, 87.80 ng/g) in Zoarces slongatus (one type of marine fish), were approximately 10-100 times of those in other seafood species. Children who frequently consumed Zoarces slongatus had higher serum PFAS levels, especially PFOA, than those who did not. Seafood intake accounted for more than 80% of the total estimated daily intake of PFAS. The dietary estimated weekly intake values of four PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, perfluorononanoic acid, and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid) for children (7.4 ng/kg of body weight (bw)/week) exceeded the tolerable weekly intake (4.4 ng/kg bw/week) as recommended by the European Food Safety Authority. CONCLUSION:Seafood was widely contaminated by both legacy PFAS and their alternatives in Laizhou Wan area. Intake of seafood, especially Zoarces slongatus, may contribute greatly to PFAS exposure in 7-year-old children. Avoiding intake of high PFAS polluted seafood may be an important strategy to protect local children. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP15157.

Breastfeeding is an important source of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure for breastfed infants. However, compared to prenatal exposures, health effects related to postnatal exposure to PFAS are less studied. In this study, we investigated PFAS exposure risk via breastfeeding and evaluate their associations with the physical growth of one-year-old infants in Laizhou Wan, a region with high PFAS exposure in Shandong, China. We included 117 mother-infant pairs who provided both human milk and maternal plasma samples for PFAS measurements. Among them, 99 one-year-old children were followed up for anthropometry measurement. We found that both legacy PFAS and their alternatives were widely detected in human milk samples. PFAS can be transferred from maternal serum to human milk. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (median: 0.970 ng/mL) was the dominant PFAS compound in human milk, while perfluoro-6-methylheptanoic acid (6 m-PFOA) (0.013 ng/mL) and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonate (6:2 Cl-PFESA) (0.018 ng/mL) had the highest median concentrations among branched isomers and alternatives, respectively. PFOA (77.35 ng/kg bw/d) had the highest median estimated daily intake (EDI) and contributed the most to the total median EDI of the Sigma 4PFAS (82.26 ng/kg bw/d). The daily exposure of infants to PFAS through breastfeeding has exceeded the health-based guidance value (HBGV) set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Sex-specific effects might exist in the association between infants' physical growth and PFAS exposures via human milk, with the PFAS mixtures showing negative associations with heightfor-age z-score (HAZ) ((3 = -0.49, 95 % CI: -0.92, -0.06) and head circumference-for-age z-score (HCZ) ((3 = -0.61, 95 % CI: -1.02, -0.20), and a positive association with body mass index-for-age z-score (BMIZ) ((3 = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.02, 1.44) only in female infants. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to verify our results.

Bisphenol AF (BPAF), a widely used substitute for bisphenol A (BPA), has been widely detected in pregnant women, raising concerns about its potential effects on reproductive health. However, studies on the reproductive toxicity of BPAF in mammals remain limited. This study aimed to investigate the reproductive toxicity and underlying mechanisms of BPAF exposure during gestation and lactation. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 10/group) and administered BPAF by oral gavage (0, 2, 10, or 50 mg/kg/d in corn oil) from gestational day (GD) 0 to postnatal day (PND) 21. Female offspring [first filial generation (F1)] were examined at PND21 and PND70 for reproductive outcomes and steroidogenic alterations. Gestational and lactational BPAF exposure significantly reduced anogenital distance (AGD) at PND21, from 12.05 +/- 0.59 mm in controls to 11.54 +/- 0.50 mm in the 50 mg/kg group (P < 0.001). At PND21, serum estradiol (E2) levels were decreased in the 2 and 10 mg/kg BPAF groups compared with controls (P < 0.05). By PND70, all BPAF-exposed offspring showed reduced E2 and testosterone (T) levels (P < 0.05). In addition, BPAF exposure increased follicular atresia and downregulated the mRNA expression of key steroidogenic genes (StAR, CYP11A1, 17 beta-HSD, and CYP19A1; P < 0.05) at PND70. Our findings indicate that BPAF exposure during gestation and lactation impairs reproductive function in F1 females and may exert long-term effects through disruption of ovarian steroidogenesis. Further research is warranted to confirm these outcomes.

Prenatal PFAS exposure and maternal psychological distress may adversely affect child neurodevelopment through shared biological pathways, such as hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis disruption and pro-inflammatory responses. However, whether psychological distress modifies PFAS-related neurodevelopmental risks remains unclear. Using data from the Shanghai Birth Cohort including 1779 mother-child pairs, we measured maternal PFAS levels during the first trimester and assessed maternal psychological distress (perceived stress, depression, and anxiety) during the second trimester. Child neurodevelopment was evaluated at 6 months of age using the Ages & Stages Questionnaires-Third Edition (ASQ-3). Multivariable regression models and quantile g-computation were conducted to evaluate the associations of ASQ-3 scores with individual and mixture PFAS. Stratified analyses were conducted between the psychological distress positive group (experienced any one type of stressor) and negative group (experienced no stressors). We found that 41 % of pregnant women experienced at least one type of psychological distress. Among the overall participants, maternal PFAS exposure was associated with reduced gross motor scores in children. Maternal psychological distress status modified the association between PFAS and gross motor scores. Specifically, the adverse associations of PFAS with gross motor development were only observed in the psychological distress positive group, while no association was found in the negative group. Significant interaction effects were observed between maternal psychological distress and most PFAS compounds (all P for interaction <0.1). Furthermore, the adverse associations of prenatal PFAS exposure with gross motor development intensified in women experiencing multiple types of psychological stressors. This study indicates that maternal psychological distress may increase the risk of PFAS-related adverse gross motor development in six-month-old children. Investigating maternal psychological distress could be crucial for identifying vulnerable populations and guiding intervention measures.

[Objective]This nested case-control study,based on the Shanghai Birth Cohort(SBC),aimed to explore the impact of early pregnancy exposure to organophosphorus flame retardants(OPFRs)on attention deficit hyperactive disorder(ADHD)-like symptoms in 4-year-old children,so as to provide epidemiological evidence regarding the health effects of emerging contaminant OPFRs in children.[Methods]Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire(SDQ)was used to assess ADHD like symptoms in 4-year-old children.Children with an SDQ hyperactivity subscale score≥6 points were defined as cases,while those with a score＜5 points were considered as controls.The case and control groups were matched at 1∶1 based on the child's age(±6 months),sex,and parental or primary caregiver's education level.A total of 105 cases and 112 controls were included eventually.Concentrations of eight OPFRs metabolites in early pregnancy urine samples were measured using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS),including di-phenyl phosphate(DPHP),di-m-cresylphosphate(DmCP),di-o-cresylphosphate(DoCP),di-p-cresylphosphate(DpCP),di-n-butyl phosphate(DnBP),di-iso-butyl phosphate(DiBP),bis(2-butoxyethyl)phosphate(BBOEP),and bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate(BEHP).Basic demographic information of mothers and children were collected through questionnaire surveys and medical records extraction.Binary logistic regression models were used to analyze the effect of individual OPFRs exposure during early pregnancy on ADHD-like symptoms,while a quantile g-computation(Qgcomp)regression model was employed to assess the effects of mixed OPFRs exposure(with detection rates＞75%)on ADHD-like symptoms in 4-year-old children.[Results]In this study,the detection rates of DPHP,DoCP,and the DmCP&DpCP in the urine of early pregnancy women were higher than 75%,with DPHP having the highest detection rate(86.18%).The median concentrations of DPHP were highest in both the case and control groups(0.396 μg·L−1 and 0.305 μg·L−1,respectively).Binary logistic regression analyses revealed that exposure to DPHP during early pregnancy increased the risk of ADHD-like symptoms in 4-year-old children(OR=1.262,95%CI:1.017-1.565).The mixed exposure model analyses showed that early pregnancy co-exposure to OPFRs increased the risk of ADHD-like symptoms(OR=1.508,95%CI:1.012-2.258),with DPHP being the primary contributor to the association.[Conclusion]Early pregnancy exposure to DPHP is positively associated with an increased risk of ADHD-like symptoms in 4-year-old children.Additionally,DPHP contributed the most to the adverse effects of mixed OPFRs exposure on ADHD-like symptoms.However,these findings require further validation through other large-scale prospective cohort studies.

Plastic is widespread in our lives, releasing various microplastics (MP) with toxicity. In recent years, the potential threat of MP on the reproductive system has aroused public concern. Numerous reports have focused on its damage to spermatogenesis. Nevertheless, the toxicity of MP on female reproduction is unclear. Here, we explored this question using bovine oocyte. Through immunofluorescence staining, the results revealed that MP disrupts spindle organization, chromosome alignment, and actin assembly, leading to failed maturation of bovine oocytes. Concurrently, abnormal expression and localization of cortical granules suggest a failure of cytoplasmic maturation. Therefore, embryonic development is affected. Utilizing single-cell transcriptome sequencing technology, we found that MP induced changes in the expression of mitochondrial-related genes, reflecting the damage of MP are mediated by mitochondrial functions. The MP indeed causes oxidative stress, DNA damage, and apoptosis. Taurine is capable of stabilizing cellular antioxidant levels. Our results suggest that taurine can inhibit mitochondrial dysfunction, reversing the failure of oocyte maturation and embryo development following MP exposure. Collectively, we reveal the reproduction toxicity of MP on bovine oocytes and demonstrate the restorative effect of taurine against MP.

Objectives Perchlorates, nitrates, and thiocyanates constitute environmental endocrine disruptors; however, health damage caused by absorption through the respiratory tract remains poorly studied. We investigated the effects of inhalation of these pollutants on thyroid function and structure and serum metabolomics in pregnant rats. Methods We established a Sprague-Dawley pregnant rat model exposed to perchlorate, nitrate, and thiocyanate at different gestational stages and compared maternal serum thyroid function levels, foetal development, thyroid morphology, and pathological changes between exposed and non-exposed groups at different concentrations. We used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry metabolomics methods to investigate corresponding changes in serum metabolites and metabolic biomarkers and identify metabolism-related pathways. Results Free triiodothyronine levels in the medium-and high-concentration groups and free thyroxine levels in the low-, medium-, and high-concentration groups were significantly lower than those in the control group. Weight gain was significantly lower in the high-dose group than in the control group. Thyroid weight and organ coefficients were significantly higher in the medium-and high-dose groups at 15 and 19 days of pregnancy than in the control group. Thyroid epithelial cells demonstrated diffuse proliferation and lamination with increased atomisation concentrations, and thyroid cells tended to undergo apoptosis in the group with high thyroid epithelial cell concentration. Eight and 18 metabolic pathways were significantly affected in the GD15 and GD19 groups（GD15: The demise occurring 15 days into gestation,GD19: The demise occurring 15 days into gestation.）, respectively, post-exposure. The involved pathways included lipid, glucose, bile acid, choline, and gamma-aminobutyric acid metabolism and peroxisome proliferation-activated receptors. Conclusions Mixed thiocyanate, nitrate, and perchlorate exposure can result in subchronic toxicity in rats, affecting thyroid function and structure.

OBJECTIVES:The link between allergic diseases and deficits in children's neurodevelopment has been suggested, but it remains unclear regarding the allergy-related effects on social-emotional development in early life. Our study aimed to explore the association between allergic diseases and social-emotional development during infancy using a prospective study. METHODS:937 infants at 6 months were recruited from two community hospitals in Shanghai, of which 805 infants followed up at 12 months. The outcome was social-emotional concern, defined by Ages & Stages Questionnaire: Social-Emotional and personal social domain from Ages & Stages Questionnaire with established cutoffs. Allergic diseases were assessed using modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood core questionnaire. Allergy patterns were classified based on time of onset and persistence as "Never", "Transient" (allergy at age of 0-6 months only or 7-12 months only), "Persistent" (allergy at age of 0-6 and 7-12 months). RESULTS:8.45 % of 12-month infants exhibited social-emotional concerns. Infants had increased risk of social-emotional concerns at 12 months who suffered allergic diseases during 0-12 months (adjusted odd ratio [aOR], 2.22; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.33-3.70), 7-12 months (aOR[95%CI]: 2.07 [1.21, 3.57]) and 0-6 months (aOR[95%CI]: 1.90 [1.12, 3.21]). Additionally, infants with persistent allergy had a 161 % higher risk of social-emotional concern (aOR[95%CI]: 2.61 [1.29, 5.28], P = 0.008) compared to infants without allergy (P for trend = 0.001). CONCLUSION:Allergic infants were more likely to experience social-emotional concerns, particularly for those with persistent allergy. To optimize social-emotional development, we highlight regular monitoring of mental health and effective management of allergy during infancy.

This study investigated longitudinal trajectories of screen time and outdoor physical activity from ages 6 to 48 months, and their independent and interactive associations with children's executive function (EF) and behavioral problems. This study included 1414 children from a prospective cohort study, the Shanghai Birth Cohort, enrolled between 2013 and 2016. Parents reported their children's screen time and outdoor physical activity at ages 6, 12, 24 and 48 months. Children's EF and behavioral problems were assessed at age 48 months using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool Version (BRIEF-P) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), respectively. We identified 3 trajectories of screen time: low stable, medium increasing, and high increasing; and 2 trajectories of outdoor physical activity: low activity and high activity. After adjusting for confounders, we found a significant trend across screen time trajectories, with higher screen time trajectory linked to greater EF difficulties and behavioral problems. Furthermore, children in the low outdoor physical activity trajectory exhibited more EF difficulties and behavioral problems than those in the high activity trajectory. While no significant interaction effects between screen time and outdoor physical activity trajectories were observed, the negative impact of high screen exposure appeared more pronounced in children with low activity trajectory. Higher screen time and lower outdoor physical activity during early years were associated with worse EF and behavioral problems, and sufficient outdoor physical activity may partly mitigate the negative effects of increased screen exposure.

Immunotherapy including anti-PD-1 demonstrated therapeutic promise to colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, but tumor cell resistance limits their efficacy. Butyrate may influence therapeutic outcomes by modulating tumor metabolism, but it remains unclear whether butyrate influences CRC cell resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy. We aimed to investigate whether butyrate promotes resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy in CRC and underlying metabolic and immunologic mechanisms. CRC murine models were established by subcutaneously inoculating MC38 cells or butyrate/anti-PD-1-administered tumor cells of mice, followed by treatment with butyrate, anti-PD-1, or a combination. Therapeutic efficacy was assessed by tumor growth and survival outcomes. In vitro, HCT116 cells were exposed to monotherapy or co-therapy regimens. Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A) knockdown was conducted by shRNA transfection both in vivo and in vitro. Fatty acid oxidation (FAO) was determined by oxygen consumption rate and CPT1A expression. CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity assays and CD8 expression in tumors were performed to evaluate immune cell infiltration. The addition of butyrate into anti-PD-1 treatment combination did not improve survival or reduce tumor volume compared to anti-PD-1 alone, with a marked activation of CPT1A observed in treated tumor tissues. Butyrate significantly elevated FAO, contributing to elevated oxygen consumption rate and reduced CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity. However, in sh-CPT1A models, the combination therapy significantly improved antitumor efficacy and restored CD8+ T cell infiltration. Furthermore, CRC patient samples resistant to anti-PD-1 therapy exhibited elevated CPT1A levels. Butyrate-induced CPT1A-mediated FAO promotes resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy in CRC, suggesting that targeting CPT1A might enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy.

BackgroundPer- and polyfuoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are categorized as persistent organic pollutants and commonly detected in humans, and their toxicity has attracted widespread attention. However, few studies have reported comparison of PFAS levels and potential factors between women pregnant using assisted reproduction technology (ART) and women pregnant naturally. ObjectiveTo analyze and compare serum concentrations and sociodemographic determinants of PFAS in pregnant women conceiving through ART and conceiving naturally from Shanghai. MethodsBased on the China National Birth Cohort (CNBC) in Shanghai from 2017 to 2019, 333 pregnant women conceiving through ART and 689 pregnant women conceiving naturally were recruited during the same period as study subjects. The concentrations of 32 PFAS were measured in early-pregnancy serum of all pregnant women, and four PFAS with the highest co-exposure levels in both groups were included in the subsequent analysis. Multiple linear regression models were performed to evaluate the associations of sociodemographic factors with serum PFAS concentrations in the two groups respectively. Beta coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were exponentiated to calculate the ratio of the geometric mean (GM) of PFAS concentrations after each unit change in the independent variable.ResultsPerfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), 6∶2 chlorinated polyfluoroethersulfonic acid (6∶2 Cl-PFESA), and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) were four major PFAS in serum of pregnant women conceiving through ART and conceiving naturally, and the concentrations of PFOA, PFOS, and 6∶2 Cl-PFESA were higher in pregnant women conceiving through ART than in pregnant women conceiving naturally (P <0.05). The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that age at pregnancy and household income were associated with serum PFAS levels in both groups. The serum concentrations of PFOS were higher in pregnant women aged ≥35 years old who conceiving through ART (GM ratio=1.26, 95%CI: 1.04, 1.54) and conceiving naturally (GM ratio=1.24, 95%CI: 1.08, 1.42) than pregnant women aged <30 years old respectively. Pregnant women conceiving through ART and conceiving naturally whose household annual income >300000 CNY had lower serum concentrations of PFOA [GM ratio (95%CI): 0.82 (0.72, 0.95) and 0.89 (0.81, 0.97), respectively] and PFHxS [GM ratio (95%CI): 0.66 (0.51, 0.86) and 0.77 (0.66, 0.90), respectively] than those women whose household annual income <200000 CNY. Additionally, pregnant women conceiving naturally with a graduate education or above had lower serum 6∶2 Cl-PFESA concentrations than women with an education below college (GM ratio: 0.81), and multiparous pregnant women conceiving naturally had higher serum concentrations of PFOS, 6∶2 Cl-PFESA, and PFHxS than primiparous pregnant women (GM ratio: 1.14, 1.25, and 1.27 respectively). ConclusionAlthough differences in serum PFAS levels are found between pregnant women conceiving through ART and women conceiving naturally in this study, maternal age and household income are common determinants of PFAS exposure levels in both populations. We find no special sociodemographic factors to affect PFAS concentrations of pregnant women conceiving through ART compared to pregnant women conceiving naturally. Further research is required to explore other potential factors.

Dechlorane plus (DP) has been detected in a variety of environmental media and in human. Measurement of DPs in hair, urine, and house dust across different habitats allows for the assessment of short-term spatial changes in human exposure to DPs, as well as their excretion in urine. This offers a significant reference point for further research on the behavior of persistent pollutants within organisms. We measured and analyzed the concentrations of DP in the hair and urine of 32 students from a university in Beijing during school and home phases, and in indoor dust from dormitories and some home environments. The results indicated that the concentrations of DP in three types of samples were higher during the home phase compared to the school phase. We compared the fanti values and identified selective enrichment of syn-DP in hair, along with selective excretion of syn-DP in urine. Utilizing molecular docking technique, we simulated the binding effect between DP and the Megalin protein. The results demonstrated that the binding energy of anti-DP to Megalin was higher than that of syn-DP, suggesting that anti-DP has a greater propensity to bind to Megalin and be reabsorbed. This results in higher levels of syn-DP excretion in urine. Finally, we categorized students based on their participation in the organic exposure experiment and their BMI. The results indicated that the concentrations of DP in hair and urine were higher in the exposed group compared to the non-exposed group during the school year. After excluding the effect of exposure, habitat changes were more likely to affect the accumulation and excretion of DP in normal-weight students (BMI ≤ 24 kg/m2, n=28), while overweight students (BMI > 24 kg/m2, n=4) were less affected by the effect of habitat because of their higher body fat percentage and their greater ability to accumulate DP.

BACKGROUND:Pregnant women in the Shanghai Birth Cohort (SBC) of China faced dual threats of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure and vitamin D (VD) insufficiency, potentially impacting offspring neurodevelopment. However, little is known about whether maternal VD status modifies PFAS-related neurodevelopment effect. OBJECTIVES:To explore the modifying role of maternal VD status in the effect of prenatal PFAS exposure on childhood neurodevelopment. METHODS:We included 746 mother-child pairs from the SBC. Ten PFAS congeners and VD levels were measured in maternal blood samples collected during the first and second trimester respectively. At 2 years of age, toddlers underwent neurodevelopment assessments using Bayley-III Scales. Multivariate linear, logistic regression, and weighted quantile sum approach were used to estimate associations of Bayley-III scores with individual and mixture PFAS. We stratified participants into VD sufficient and insufficient groups and further balanced PFAS differences between these groups by matching all PFAS levels. We fitted the same statistical models in each VD group before and after matching. RESULTS:Nearly half (46.5 %) of pregnant women were VD insufficient (<30 ng/mL). In the overall population, PFAS exposure was associated with lower language scores and an increased risk for neurodevelopmental delay, but higher cognitive scores. However, adverse associations with PFAS were mainly observed in the VD sufficient group, while the VD insufficient group showed positive cognitive score associations. Higher PFAS concentrations were found in the VD sufficient group compared to the VD insufficient group. Post-matching, adverse associations in the VD sufficient group were nullified, whereas in the VD insufficient group, positive associations disappeared and adverse associations becoming more pronounced. CONCLUSION:In this Chinese birth cohort, high prenatal PFAS exposure and low maternal VD levels collectively heighten the risk of adverse childhood neurodevelopment. However, disentangling PFAS and VD interrelationships is crucial to avoid paradoxical findings.