Effects of Perfluorobutane Sulfonate (PFBS) on Female Reproduction, Pregnancy, and Birth Outcomes.

IMPORTANCE: Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) is a short-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) that has emerged as a significant public health concern due to its widespread environmental contamination and persistent nature. While PFBS is considered to have a shorter half-life in the environment and human body compared to other PFAS compounds, there are still growing concerns about its potential impacts on human health, particularly on female reproduction and birth outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This literature review critically examines the impact of PFBS exposure on female reproductive health, pregnancy outcomes, and fetal development, synthesizing the most recent data from both human and animal studies. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using data from peer-reviewed articles, clinical trials, animal models, and regulatory reports. RESULTS: These studies suggest that PFBS may have adverse effects on fertility, pregnancy health, and fetal development. It also explores the current regulatory landscape for PFBS, focusing on policies in Europe, the United States, and Asia while emphasizing the growing global efforts to establish more stringent guidelines and develop effective treatment technologies to mitigate PFBS exposure. Given the bioaccumulative properties of PFBS and its increasing detection through environmental surveillance, ongoing research, especially targeted studies in human populations, is urgently needed to fully elucidate its reproductive toxicity, including its potential transgenerational effects. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: This review underscores the importance of understanding PFBS mechanisms of action at the molecular and epigenetic levels, as this knowledge will be essential for informing public health strategies, shaping regulatory policies, and developing interventions to reduce human and environmental exposure.

Duke Scholars

Author Liping Feng Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Sciences