Determinants of exposures to preconception plasma perfluoroalkyl substances and periconceptional urinary phthalate and pesticide metabolites in a Singaporean longitudinal preconception cohort.

BACKGROUND

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) pose a health risk, but biomonitoring data in women at preconception are limited. We examined EDC exposures and potential determinants in women preconception.

METHODS

We studied 384 women with 15 PFAS measured in preconception plasma and 76 women with 15 phthalate and 13 pesticide metabolites in preconception and mid-pregnancy urine, enrolled in 2015-2017 in the S-PRESTO cohort. Potential EDC exposure determinants included sociodemographic and dietary factors measured via preconception questionnaires. Associations of determinants with PFAS were assessed using linear/logistic regression and with phthalate or pesticide metabolites using linear mixed-effect models.

RESULTS

After FDR correction, determinants associated with lower concentrations of multiple PFAS [e.g., β (95%CI) for PFOS] included Indian vs. Chinese ethnicity [-34% (-44.68%, -21.96%)], medium vs. lower household income [-17.47% (-26.73%, -6.95%)], multiparity vs. nulliparity [-15.38% (23.36%, -6.57%)], and higher fast food intakes [-7.87% (-12.01%, -3.54%)]. Service worker had higher PFOS concentrations compared to non-workers. Higher age was associated with lower PFNA while packaged food consumption with higher PFNA concentrations. For phthalates, Indian/Malay vs. Chinese ethnicity was associated with higher MEP concentrations. Association patterns further suggested that higher age, education, vegetable intakes, and Styrofoam food container use were associated with higher HMWP and/or LMWP metabolite concentrations. Pesticide metabolites associations were null and/or did not survive FDR correction.

CONCLUSIONS

In Singaporean women, sociodemographics, fast food and vegetable intakes, packaged food consumption, and Styrofoam food container use were associated with EDC exposure. Findings may inform interventions to reduce EDC exposures in vulnerable periods.