First evidence of legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the follicular fluid of a cohort of North Carolina in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients

IF 3.4 4区医学 Q2 REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Reproductive toxicology Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2025-11-04 DOI:10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.109102

S.S. Boney , C. Christen , B.A. Wetmore , A.S. Murr , D. Raburn , S.L. Young , C. Abraham , T.E. Stoker

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Despite widespread per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in North Carolina (NC), such as in the Cape Fear region, and documented detection in drinking water and serum, little is known about their accumulation in human follicular fluid (FF)—a critical microenvironment for oocyte maturation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to quantify PFAS in the FF of 86 women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) in NC. Using targeted analysis, we measured 23 PFAS including legacy, alternatives, and emerging ether compounds. PFAS were detected in all samples, with the highest levels in perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs) such as PFHxS and PFOS (2.36 and 1.28 ng/mL). Detection frequencies varied by chemical class, with legacy perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and PFSAs detected more often than emerging alternatives. Interestingly, hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX) was detected in 88 % of samples and this PFAS is not frequently detected in human serum. Three to 16 analytes were detected per patient in a range of 0.5–12.8 ng/mL. The cumulative PFAS load was not significantly different between patients with and without an infertility diagnosis, though individual variability was high. This is the first study to examine PFAS in FF in NC and confirms that both legacy and alternative PFAS can cross the blood–follicle barrier to accumulate in FF. This study detected several compounds at a high frequency that have not been previously reported in NC serum, including PFDS, PFTrA, and GenX.

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北卡罗莱纳州试管婴儿（IVF）患者的卵泡液中存在遗留和新出现的全氟烷基和多氟烷基物质（PFAS）的第一个证据。

尽管全氟烷基和多氟烷基物质（PFAS）在北卡罗来纳州（NC）广泛污染，如在开普菲尔地区，并在饮用水和血清中检测到，但对它们在人类卵泡液（FF）中的积累知之甚少-卵泡液是卵母细胞成熟的关键微环境。因此，目的是量化86名接受体外受精（IVF）的NC妇女FF中的PFAS。通过针对性分析，我们测量了23种PFAS，包括遗留的、替代的和新出现的醚化合物。在所有样品中均检测到PFAS，其中PFHxS和PFOS等全氟烷基磺酸（pfsa）含量最高（2.36和1.28ng/mL）。检测频率因化学类别而异，传统的全氟烷基羧酸（PFCAs）和pfsa比新出现的替代品检测频率更高。有趣的是，在88%的样品中检测到六氟环氧丙烷二聚酸（GenX），而这种PFAS在人血清中并不常见。每位患者在0.5至12.8ng/mL范围内检测到3至16种分析物。尽管个体差异很大，但在诊断为不孕症的患者和未诊断为不孕症的患者之间，累积PFAS负荷没有显著差异。这是第一个在NC患者FF中检测PFAS的研究，并证实了遗留的和替代的PFAS都可以穿过血滤泡屏障在FF中积累。本研究检测到几种以前未在NC血清中报道的高频化合物，包括PFDS、PFTrA和GenX。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Reproductive toxicology 生物-毒理学

CiteScore

6.50

自引率

3.00%

发文量

131

审稿时长

45 days

期刊介绍： Drawing from a large number of disciplines, Reproductive Toxicology publishes timely, original research on the influence of chemical and physical agents on reproduction. Written by and for obstetricians, pediatricians, embryologists, teratologists, geneticists, toxicologists, andrologists, and others interested in detecting potential reproductive hazards, the journal is a forum for communication among researchers and practitioners. Articles focus on the application of in vitro, animal and clinical research to the practice of clinical medicine. All aspects of reproduction are within the scope of Reproductive Toxicology, including the formation and maturation of male and female gametes, sexual function, the events surrounding the fusion of gametes and the development of the fertilized ovum, nourishment and transport of the conceptus within the genital tract, implantation, embryogenesis, intrauterine growth, placentation and placental function, parturition, lactation and neonatal survival. Adverse reproductive effects in males will be considered as significant as adverse effects occurring in females. To provide a balanced presentation of approaches, equal emphasis will be given to clinical and animal or in vitro work. Typical end points that will be studied by contributors include infertility, sexual dysfunction, spontaneous abortion, malformations, abnormal histogenesis, stillbirth, intrauterine growth retardation, prematurity, behavioral abnormalities, and perinatal mortality.