2025-12-12 国立成育医療研究センター
<関連情報>
- https://www.ncchd.go.jp/press/2025/1212.html
- https://www.ncchd.go.jp/press/2025/1212.pdf
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025005756
パーフルオロアルキル化合物およびポリフルオロアルキル化合物への母親の曝露と4歳までの小児神経発達との関連:日本環境と子どもの研究 Associations between maternal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and childhood neurodevelopment up to age 4: The Japan environment and children’s study
Hidetoshi Mezawa, Akifumi Eguchi, Midori Yamamoto, Narumi Tokuda, Masayuki Shima, Shoji Nakayama, Michihiro Kamijima, The Japan Environment and Children’s Study Group
Environment International Available online: 27 September 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2025.109824
Graphical abstract
Highlights
- Measured 8 PFAS in about 25,000 early mid-pregnancy samples nationwide, including losses.
- Developed an IRT-based PFAS burden score and assessed child development at 2 and 4 years.
- The PFAS burden score and several PFASs were related to improved overall language at 2 and 4 years.
- A negative association was observed between PFHxS and child gross motor development at age 2.
- No substantial sex-specific differences were observed.
Abstract
Background
The link between maternal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure during pregnancy and child development is inconclusive. Addressing this requires better evaluation methods for mixed PFAS exposures and ensuring comparable outcomes. It is important to assess if PFAS mixtures affect developmental outcomes based on evaluation methods or timing.
Methods
The study included 4,585 participants from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study sub-cohort. Maternal plasma PFAS exposure was assessed from the main cohort participants using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Of 28 PFAS compounds, eight detected in over 60 % of samples were selected. Single PFAS concentrations and an item response theory-based PFAS burden score were applied. Outcomes were assessed using the Kyoto Scale of Psychological Development (KSPD) at 2 and 4 years. Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3) at eight-time points until 4 years, with trajectory groups formed growth mixture modeling from ASQ-3 data. Linear and multinomial logistic regression models adjusted for relevant covariates were used.
Results
Positive associations were consistently observed between PFAS (e.g., PFAS burden score, PFNA, PFUnA, PFDoA, PFTrDA) and general and language development in KSPD at 2 and 4 years. Only one negative association was observed between PFHxS and gross motor development in KSPD at age 2. The ASQ-3 trajectory analysis maintained these trends but did not find any significance. No sex-specific differences were detected in KSPD and ASQ-3 trajectory analysis.
Conclusions
Prenatal PFAS exposure was associated with improved overall development and language-social scores at 2 and 4 years. Only one negative association was observed between PFHxS and gross motor development in KSPD at age 2.
