Shorter duration of breastfeeding at elevated maternal serum concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances

Introduction: Breastfeeding has a number of positive effects on the infant as well as the mother, but globally only 38% of infants are exclusively breastfed for six months as recommended by the World Health Organization. Concern about inadequate milk supply is frequently reported as a cause for early weaning, but little is known about the physiological mechanisms and the possible contribution by industrial chemicals. We aimed to examine whether exposure to the persistent environmental chemicals, perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), was associated with duration of lactation. Methods: Maternal serum concentrations of five PFASs: Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) were measured in blood samples collected during pregnancy or two weeks after parturition in years 1997–2000 and 2007-2009. Duration of total and exclusive breastfeeding was subsequently assessed by questionnaire. F...