Associations between self-reported consumption of foods and serum PFAS concentrations in a sample of pregnant women in the United States
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Diet may contribute to human exposure for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), either due to contamination of food itself or from the use of PFAS in food packaging. From 2009 to 2010 the National Children’s Study (NCS) Vanguard Study pilot study provided an opportunity to assess relationships between environmental and other exposures and children’s health. Women who participated in the Vanguard Study pilot generally had at least one home visit during pregnancy to collect biomonitoring specimens, environmental samples, and questionnaire data. We analyzed serum PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, PFDA, Me-PFOSA-Et) data from 374 women who also completed a food frequency questionnaire to investigate associations between food consumption during pregnancy and PFAS exposure. Tests of difference were performed between participants who reported either having eaten or not eaten particular types of foods within the 3 months prior to them responding to the questionnaire. Tests of difference were also performed between groups of participants that reported eating foods at different frequencies. PFNA and PFDA were significantly associated with the consumption and consumption frequency of some foods analyzed. Participants that reported having eaten seafood or tofu had significantly higher concentrations of some PFAS than participants that had not eaten them, and the increasing frequency of seafood or tofu consumption indicated higher PFAS concentrations for some chemicals. Me-PFOSA-Et significantly decreased with increasing frequency of consumption for some foods. These results indicated that some foods eaten by pregnant women may have contributed to the levels of PFAS in their blood.