PFAS in Teen Blood Is Linked to Lower Bone Density

Teenagers with higher PFNA and PFDA blood levels had measurably lower bone density than their peers with less exposure. This matters because adolescence is when the body builds most of its peak bone mass. Whatever density you build during these years is what you take into adulthood.

What the study found

A 2026 study in Environment International analyzed data from 889 Norwegian adolescents with an average age of 16. Researchers measured 18 PFAS compounds in blood and used bone density scans to assess the femoral neck, hip, and total body. Higher levels of PFNA and PFDA were consistently associated with lower total body bone mineral density, with a beta of negative 0.15 to 0.16 per doubling of concentration.

PFOS was the highest detected compound at 6.23 ng/mL median, but PFNA and PFDA showed the clearest skeletal effects. Boys showed slightly stronger inverse associations than girls. Adolescence is when these associations matter most: you can't build back bone density you didn't build in the first place.

Where PFNA and PFDA come from

PFNA is used in fluoropolymer production and has been found in food packaging, nonstick coatings, and stain-resistant textiles. PFDA is a longer-chain PFAS that bioaccumulates at higher rates than shorter ones. Both enter the body primarily through diet and contact with PFAS-treated products.

For a teenager's regular environment, the biggest PFAS sources are nonstick cookware, microwave popcorn bags, fast food packaging, and stain-resistant clothing or furniture treatments. Swapping these reduces ongoing exposure during the years it matters most for skeletal development. PFAS-free cookware removes the daily kitchen source. Non-toxic home essentials covers stain-resistant textiles and household items without the coating.

Source: Wang J et al. (2026). Environment International.