Volatile Organic Compounds Detected in Amniotic Fluid of Women During Normal Pregnancy

Abstract

Exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the fetal period may induce negative effects on children’s health (e.g. increased risk of low birth weight and imbalanced development). Whereas VOCs have been analysed extensively in various human biological fluids (i.e. urine, blood, and breath), during pregnancy only urine has been studied and no work has been performed on amniotic fluid (AF), which is in direct contact with the fetus and is essential for its well-balanced development and maturation. This study aimed to detect VOCs in AF and to investigate their links to the lifestyle habits of pregnant women. The VOC composition of the AF collected from 76 healthy pregnant women was analysed using a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer. The sources of VOC exposure in pregnant women were assessed using a questionnaire about their home living conditions and their professional exposure. A total of 126 VOCs belonging to 13 chemical families were detected in AF. The majority of these VOCs (92) had an exogenous origin, and their presence was linked to lifestyle habits, especially smoking and fragrance use. Considering the direct contact of these VOCs with multiple fetal organs, this study is an important contribution to the literature exploring the future potential relationships between VOCs and abnormal fetal development.

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