Monitoring and assessing the association of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and flame retardants (Dechlorane Plus and DBDPE) with parental lifestyle factors in a mother–child cohort of the Finnish population (NUGEN)

Human exposure to flame retardants, particularly PBDEs, is detectable in maternal plasma and linked to various adverse health outcomes, but the influence of parental lifestyle and diet on these levels remains poorly understood. To monitor PBDEs in maternal and cord plasma samples and examine their relationships with parental health determinants - specifically dietary intake, environmental exposure, and lifestyle factors-in a Northern Finland population for the first time. Maternal and cord plasma samples from 102 NUGEN cohort pairs were collected during caesarean sections at Oulu University Hospital. Plasma samples were analysed for PBDE congeners (BDE-47, BDE-66, BDE-85, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, BDE-154, BDE-183, BDE-209), DBDPE, and chlorinated flame retardants (sDP, aDP), with lipid adjustment. Total cord BFRs were calculated as the sum of all congeners quantified in cord plasma, and total maternal BFRs were calculated analogously using maternal plasma. PBDE congeners with the highest detection frequencies were maternal BDE-28 (42 %), BDE-47 (42 %), BDE-153 (100 %); and cord BDE-28 (50 %), BDE-47 (52 %), BDE-153 (95 %), BDE-154 (33 %). Maternal smoking was inversely associated with cord BDE-28 (−0.80 [−1.50, −0.09]). Higher paternal education was negatively associated with cord BDE-28 (−0.93 [−1.58, −0.27]), BDE-153 (−0.21 [−0.43, −0.005]), and BDE-154 (−4.34 [−8.00, −0.68]). High vegetable intake was inversely associated with cord BDE-154 (−3.99 [−7.76, −0.22]), while high meat intake was positively associated with total cord BFRs (0.42 [0.06, 0.78]), cord BDE-47 (0.67 [0.13, 1.21]), and maternal BDE-47 (0.77 [0.16, 1.37]). PBDE levels were higher in cord than maternal samples but lower than in other European countries. Findings support maternal-to-child PBDE transfer and reveal associations with lifestyle, diet, and sociodemographic factors, including paternal variables-a notable gap in prior research. • First Finnish study measures PBDEs in 102 matched mother–cord plasma pairs. • Cord blood shows higher PBDE burden than maternal plasma. • Lifestyle, dietary intake, sociodemographic factors were associated with PBDE concentrations. • Paternal factors analysed, reinforcing evidence for maternal-to-child transfer.