Abstract. Humans are exposed to chemical carcinogens and endocrine disruptors for instances through environment and diet they consume. Special attention should be paid to pregnant mothers in whom consumption of any harmful compounds can lead to adverse effects in a new born baby as it is believed that these compounds pass through the placenta. The developing foetus is vulnerable to toxic and teratogenic effects and the prenatal exposure of chemicals might lead to developmental changes or even increase in the risk of developing cancer later in life.

The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the transplacental transfer of perfluorinated compounds using ex-vivo placental perfusion methodology. Placental perfusion techniques are currently used to study not only the organ functions but also the transplacental transfer and placental metabolism of different compounds. In addition BeWo choriocarcinoma cell line to study the effect of PFOS and PFOA on ABCG2 transporter expression.

Several placentas were perfused with PFOA and PFOS, but only 2 perfusions fulfilled the criteria for successful perfusion. It was shown that both PFOS and PFOA cross placenta although the transfer rate is relatively slow and clearly slower than with reference compound antipyrine which crosses placenta by passive diffusion.

In conclusion our results suggest that foetuses are exposed to PFOS and PFOA which is in line with biomonotoring studies. Furthermore, neither PFOS nor PFOA significantly affected ABCG2 transporter expression in BeWo cells.