Journal of Immunotoxicology (Jan 2017)

Association between perfluoroalkyl substance exposure and asthma and allergic disease in children as modified by MMR vaccination

  • Clara Amalie Gade Timmermann,
  • Esben Budtz-Jørgensen,
  • Tina Kold Jensen,
  • Christa Elyse Osuna,
  • Maria Skaalum Petersen,
  • Ulrike Steuerwald,
  • Flemming Nielsen,
  • Lars K. Poulsen,
  • Pál Weihe,
  • Philippe Grandjean

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/1547691X.2016.1254306
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 39 – 49

Abstract

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Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are highly persistent chemicals that might be associated with asthma and allergy, but the associations remain unclear. Therefore, this study examined whether pre- and postnatal PFAS exposure was associated with childhood asthma and allergy. Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination in early life may have a protective effect against asthma and allergy, and MMR vaccination is therefore taken into account when evaluating these associations. In a cohort of Faroese children whose mothers were recruited during pregnancy, serum concentrations of five PFASs – Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) – were measured at three timepoints (maternal serum in pregnancy week 34–36 and child serum at ages 5 and 13 years) and their association with immunoglobulin E (IgE) (cord blood and at age 7 years) and asthma/allergic diseases (questionnaires at ages 5 and 13 years and skin prick test at age 13 years) was determined. A total of 559 children were included in the analyses. Interactions with MMR vaccination were evaluated. Among 22 MMR-unvaccinated children, higher levels of the five PFASs at age 5 years were associated with increased odds of asthma at ages 5 and 13. The associations were reversed among MMR-vaccinated children. Prenatal PFAS exposure was not associated with childhood asthma or allergic diseases regardless of MMR vaccination status. In conclusion, PFAS exposure at age 5 was associated with increased risk of asthma among a small subgroup of MMR-unvaccinated children but not among MMR-vaccinated children. While PFAS exposure may impact immune system functions, this study suggests that MMR vaccination might be a potential effect-modifier.

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