This study aimed to examine the potential association between maternal
PBDEs and birth outcomes, including
birth weight (g), length (cm), head circumference (cm) and gestational age (week). 215 mothers were recruited from a prospective birth cohort in rural northern China between September 2010 and February 2012. Serum
PBDE congeners were detected and their association with birth outcomes were examined. The median maternal serum concentrations of
BDE-28, -47, -99, -100, -153 were 2.27, 2.26, 3.58, 2.13, 4.87 ng/g
lipid, respectively. Maternal LgBDE-28 and LgBDE-100 were negatively associated with birth length (β = -0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI): -1.82, -0.02; β = -0.97, 95% CI: -1.83, -0.08). A negative association was found between LgBDE-28 and
birth weight among male infants (β = -253.76, 95% CI: -438.16, -69.36).
PBDE congeners were not associated with head circumference, or gestational age. Our results contribute to growing evidence suggesting that
PBDEs have adverse effects on birth outcomes.