PFAS exposure in 12-year-old children and its association with metabolic markers
Abstract
Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are long-lasting industrial chemicals with widespread exposure, but their effects on adolescent cardiometabolic health remain underexplored. This cross-sectional study evaluated associations between PFAS concentrations and metabolic biomarkers at age 12. Methods: The study included 451 participants from the French PELAGIE mother-child cohort. At age 12, serum levels of six PFAS and metabolic biomarkers (leptin, adiponectin, fructosamine, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides) were measured. Cross-sectional associations were assessed using multivariable linear regression models and Quantile G-computation mixture models, adjusted for potential confounders and stratified by sex and pubertal stage. Results: In the overall population, perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUdA) was associated with higher total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels. In pre-menarcheal girls, perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) was associated with higher total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels, and PFAS mixture analyses also showed positive associations with these lipid markers. In boys, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) were associated with higher triglyceride levels in peripubertal boys, whereas perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was associated with lower triglyceride levels in postpubertal boys. Conclusion: Findings indicate potential associations between PFAS exposure and metabolic biomarkers at age 12, with variations by sex and pubertal status, emphasizing the need for longitudinal investigations. Impact: PFAS were detected in all serum samples, showing widespread exposure among the adolescents. Exposure to PFAS was associated with blood lipid markers at age 12, with differences in associations observed across sex- and pubertal stage-specific groups. This study is one of the few to consider the stage of pubertal development in the associations between PFAS and metabolic health markers. The findings suggest that pubertal development should be considered when evaluating the health effects of PFAS exposure during adolescence.
Related
- Volatile Metabolic Signatures Reveal Early Pulmonary Responses to PFAS Exposure
- PFAS exposure modulates mitochondrial susceptibility in steatotic hepatocytes
- Evaluation of airborne PFAS concentrations in PFAS-using industrial facilities
- Do public records document PFAS drinking-water response handoffs? A 51-jurisdiction audit
- Overlooked Roles of Oxygen in PFAS Degradation by UV/Sulfite: Mechanistic Insights and Engineering Implications
BibTeX
@article{lejeune2026pfas,
title = {{PFAS exposure in 12-year-old children and its association with metabolic markers}},
author = {Naomi Lejeune and Elke Rouxel and Christine Monfort and Hélène Tillaut and Corentin Goxe and Florence Rouget and Frank Giton and Éric Gaudreau and Fabrice Lainé and Ronan Garlantézec and Sylvaine Cordier and Cécile Chevrier and Charline Warembourg},
journal = {Pediatric Research},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1038/s41390-026-05396-4},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05850169v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - PFAS exposure in 12-year-old children and its association with metabolic markers
AU - Naomi Lejeune
AU - Elke Rouxel
AU - Christine Monfort
AU - Hélène Tillaut
AU - Corentin Goxe
AU - Florence Rouget
AU - Frank Giton
AU - Éric Gaudreau
AU - Fabrice Lainé
AU - Ronan Garlantézec
AU - Sylvaine Cordier
AU - Cécile Chevrier
AU - Charline Warembourg
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/03
JO - Pediatric Research
DO - 10.1038/s41390-026-05396-4
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05850169v1
AB - Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are long-lasting industrial chemicals with widespread exposure, but their effects on adolescent cardiometabolic health remain underexplored. This cross-sectional study evaluated associations between PFAS concentrations and metabolic biomarkers at age 12. Methods: The study included 451 participants from the French PELAGIE mother-child cohort. At age 12, serum levels of six PFAS and metabolic biomarkers (leptin, adiponectin, fructosamine, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides) were measured. Cross-sectional associations were assessed using multivariable linear regression models and Quantile G-computation mixture models, adjusted for potential confounders and stratified by sex and pubertal stage. Results: In the overall population, perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUdA) was associated with higher total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels. In pre-menarcheal girls, perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) was associated with higher total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels, and PFAS mixture analyses also showed positive associations with these lipid markers. In boys, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) were associated with higher triglyceride levels in peripubertal boys, whereas perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was associated with lower triglyceride levels in postpubertal boys. Conclusion: Findings indicate potential associations between PFAS exposure and metabolic biomarkers at age 12, with variations by sex and pubertal status, emphasizing the need for longitudinal investigations. Impact: PFAS were detected in all serum samples, showing widespread exposure among the adolescents. Exposure to PFAS was associated with blood lipid markers at age 12, with differences in associations observed across sex- and pubertal stage-specific groups. This study is one of the few to consider the stage of pubertal development in the associations between PFAS and metabolic health markers. The findings suggest that pubertal development should be considered when evaluating the health effects of PFAS exposure during adolescence.
SN - 0031-3998
SN - 1530-0447
ER -