Environmental Contaminants Infiltrate Placenta during Pregnancy
|
By HospiMedica International staff writers Posted on 14 Feb 2019 |
|
Image: A new study reveals that industrial chemicals called perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), used in many consumer products, pass through the placenta to accumulate in fetal tissue (Photo courtesy of NewsMedicalNet).
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet (KI; Solna, Sweden), Rigshospitalet (Copenhagen, Denmark), and Copenhagen University (Denmark) conducted a study to measure the concentrations of distinct PFAS in human embryos and fetuses and corresponding placentas and maternal serum samples derived from elective pregnancy terminations and intrauterine fetal death cases. In all, 78 embryos and fetuses aged 7–42 gestational weeks were included for a total of 225 fetal organs, together with 71 placentas and 63 maternal serum samples. PFAS concentrations were assayed by liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry.
The results revealed that PFAS concentrations in embryo/fetal tissue were lower than maternal serum, but similar to placenta concentrations. The total PFAS burden was highest in lung tissue in first trimester samples and in the liver in second and third trimester samples. The burden was lowest in CNS samples, irrespective of fetal age. The researchers found that placenta:maternal serum ratios increased across gestation, suggesting bioaccumulation in the placenta, and that the ratios were higher in pregnancies with male fetuses. The study was published on January 24, 2019, in Environment International.
“The main source of PFAS substances today is food, in the form of fish, milk, meat, and eggs, or in the drinking water, if you happen to live in a polluted area,” said senior author Pauliina Damdimopoulou, PhD, of the KI department of clinical science, intervention and technology. “We ingest them as a cocktail of substances that can also interact with each other. It would be in line with the precautionary principle in the restriction of chemical substances to make sure that all PFAS substances disappear from our society.”
The PFAS group comprises thousands of human-made chemicals with alkyl chains in which fluoride atoms replace hydrogen atoms, forming strong carbon fluorine bonds resistant to degradation. Thanks to their water- and grease-resistant properties, they are used in everything from frying pans and food packaging to clothes, cleaning agents, and firefighting foams. Many PFAS are regulated due to their bioaccumulative properties and toxicity for reproduction, and one, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) was banned by the European Union in 2008.
Related Links:
Karolinska Institutet
Rigshospitalet
Copenhagen University
The results revealed that PFAS concentrations in embryo/fetal tissue were lower than maternal serum, but similar to placenta concentrations. The total PFAS burden was highest in lung tissue in first trimester samples and in the liver in second and third trimester samples. The burden was lowest in CNS samples, irrespective of fetal age. The researchers found that placenta:maternal serum ratios increased across gestation, suggesting bioaccumulation in the placenta, and that the ratios were higher in pregnancies with male fetuses. The study was published on January 24, 2019, in Environment International.
“The main source of PFAS substances today is food, in the form of fish, milk, meat, and eggs, or in the drinking water, if you happen to live in a polluted area,” said senior author Pauliina Damdimopoulou, PhD, of the KI department of clinical science, intervention and technology. “We ingest them as a cocktail of substances that can also interact with each other. It would be in line with the precautionary principle in the restriction of chemical substances to make sure that all PFAS substances disappear from our society.”
The PFAS group comprises thousands of human-made chemicals with alkyl chains in which fluoride atoms replace hydrogen atoms, forming strong carbon fluorine bonds resistant to degradation. Thanks to their water- and grease-resistant properties, they are used in everything from frying pans and food packaging to clothes, cleaning agents, and firefighting foams. Many PFAS are regulated due to their bioaccumulative properties and toxicity for reproduction, and one, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) was banned by the European Union in 2008.
Related Links:
Karolinska Institutet
Rigshospitalet
Copenhagen University
Gold Member
STI Test
Vivalytic Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Array
New
Tourniquet System
heidi– mein Tourniquet
New
Surgical Dressing
ALLEVYN Ag+ SURGICAL
Latest Patient Care News
- Wearable Sleep Data Predict Adherence to Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- Revolutionary Automatic IV-Line Flushing Device to Enhance Infusion Care
- VR Training Tool Combats Contamination of Portable Medical Equipment
- Portable Biosensor Platform to Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections
- First-Of-Its-Kind Portable Germicidal Light Technology Disinfects High-Touch Clinical Surfaces in Seconds
- Surgical Capacity Optimization Solution Helps Hospitals Boost OR Utilization
- Game-Changing Innovation in Surgical Instrument Sterilization Significantly Improves OR Throughput
- Next Gen ICU Bed to Help Address Complex Critical Care Needs
- Groundbreaking AI-Powered UV-C Disinfection Technology Redefines Infection Control Landscape
- Clean Hospitals Can Reduce Antibiotic Resistance, Save Lives
- Smart Hospital Beds Improve Accuracy of Medical Diagnosis
- New Fast Endoscope Drying System Improves Productivity and Traceability
- World’s First Automated Endoscope Cleaner Fights Antimicrobial Resistance
- Portable High-Capacity Digital Stretcher Scales Provide Precision Weighing for Patients in ER
- Portable Clinical Scale with Remote Indicator Allows for Flexible Patient Weighing Use
- Innovative and Highly Customizable Medical Carts Offer Unlimited Configuration Possibilities
Channels
Artificial Intelligence
view channel
AI Analysis of Pericardial Fat Refines Long-Term Heart Disease Risk
Accurately identifying long-term cardiovascular disease risk in asymptomatic adults remains challenging for clinicians. Missed or underestimated risk delays preventive therapy and increases the chance... Read more
Machine Learning Approach Enhances Liver Cancer Risk Stratification
Hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of primary liver cancer, is often detected late despite targeted surveillance programs. Current screening guidelines emphasize patients with known cirrhosis,... Read more
Critical Care
view channel
Eye Imaging AI Identifies Elevated Cardiovascular Risk
Many adults at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease are not identified until they undergo formal primary care assessment. Delayed risk recognition can postpone initiation of statins and lifestyle... Read more
Noninvasive Monitoring Device Enables Earlier Intervention in Heart Failure
Hospitalizations for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remain common because lung congestion often worsens before symptoms prompt treatment changes. Missed early decompensation... Read more
Surgical Techniques
view channel
Fiber-Form Bone Graft Expands Intraoperative Options for Spinal Fusion
Spinal and orthopedic fusion procedures often require bone graft materials that handle predictably and support bone formation. Surgeons face added complexity in difficult anatomy and challenging fusion environments.... Read more
Ultrasound‑Aided Catheter Treatment Cuts Early Collapse in Pulmonary Embolism
Acute pulmonary embolism can cause rapid hemodynamic deterioration and early death in hospitalized and emergency patients. Systemic thrombolysis can dissolve clots but is limited by a high risk of major... Read more
Health IT
view channel
Voice-Driven AI System Enables Structured GI Procedure Documentation
Documentation during gastrointestinal (GI) procedures often competes with real-time clinical decision-making and imposes a significant cognitive burden on physicians. Manual data entry and post-procedure... Read more
EMR-Based Tool Predicts Graft Failure After Kidney Transplant
Kidney transplantation offers patients with end-stage kidney disease longer survival and better quality of life than dialysis, yet graft failure remains a major challenge. Although a successful transplant... Read more
Printable Molecule-Selective Nanoparticles Enable Mass Production of Wearable Biosensors
The future of medicine is likely to focus on the personalization of healthcare—understanding exactly what an individual requires and delivering the appropriate combination of nutrients, metabolites, and... Read more
Business
view channel
GE HealthCare Leads Major European Initiative to Advance Cardio-Oncology Care
Cardiovascular complications are increasingly recognized among people undergoing or recovering from cancer treatment, driven by pre‑existing disease and the cardiotoxic effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy,... Read more
