[Effects of intrauterine exposure of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances on growth and development of offspring].

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a new subgroup of the persistent organic pollutants that have been widely used in industrial production and daily life for over 60 years. The presence of PFASs can be detected in rivers, soil, humans and wildlifes. Studies have shown that PFASs can induce multi-system toxicity in laboratory animals, including liver toxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, endocrine toxicity and immunotoxicity. PFASs are closely related to the birth outcomes, growth and development of the offspring. PFASs primarily impair the health of the offspring by regulating peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors pathways, interfering with estrogen, affecting the thyroid system, glucocorticoids, inflammatory responses, and DNA methylation. Thus, more large-scale longitudinal cohort studies should be conducted and more in-depth potential mechanisms of action should be explored to clarify the relationship between intrauterine exposure of PFASs and birth outcomes, growth and development of offspring.