We explored whether polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) exposed in cord blood could have any potential relationship with perinatal outcomes. Participants were pregnant females (n = 222) who were recruited from a prospective birth cohort (Laizhou Wan Birth Cohort, LWBC) between September 2010 and February 2012. We measured eight PBDE congeners (BDE-28, BDE-47, BDE-85, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, BDE-154, and BDE-183) in cord serum and examined their relationship with perinatal outcomes. The median levels of BDE-28, BDE-47, BDE-85, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, BDE-154, and BDE-183 were 2.92, 3.93, 2.29, 7.03, 3.03, 3.14, 1.46, and 2.55 ng/g lipids, respectively. For each log unit increase in BDE-47, BDE-100, and ∑4PBDEs, gestational age increased by 0.70 weeks (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.25, 1.15), 0.48 weeks (95% CI 0.03, 0.94), and 0.73 weeks (95% CI 0.12, 1.34), respectively. We also found that BDE-47 was positively associated with head circumference (β = 0.42, 95% CI 0.00, 0.84). Given that our study area is one of the major brominated flame retardant production areas in China, and the cord PBDEs levels were relatively higher than those reported in most other Asian areas, more studies on the effects of in utero PBDE exposure on fetal growth and child development are warranted.
Keywords: China; Cord blood; PBDEs; Perinatal outcomes; Prenatal exposure.