PFAS Was Found in 98.8% of Blood Samples Tested
NonToxCo Research
Science & Safety Team · 5/5/2026
Researchers tested 10,566 human blood samples for PFAS. Only 19 people, out of more than ten thousand, had none detectable. That's 0.18%. The rest, 98.8% of the sample, carried at least one PFAS compound in their blood. Most carried five or more. This is from a 2026 study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene.
What They Found
The most common PFAS combination (found in 26.1% of samples) included PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, and PFHpS all at once. These compounds have different half-lives in the body, ranging from years to decades. They don't break down. They accumulate. And PFAS mixtures may have additive or synergistic effects beyond what any single compound does alone.
The researchers note that clinical guidance still tends to focus on individual PFAS compounds. But the reality is that almost no one has just one. The body burden is a mixture, and the health effects of mixtures are still being studied.
What This Means for You
If you live in a developed country, you almost certainly have PFAS in your blood. The goal isn't zero, which isn't realistic right now. The goal is reducing ongoing exposure so your body burden doesn't climb.
The biggest controllable sources: nonstick cookware (PFAS migrates into food at cooking temperatures), PFAS-treated food packaging, stain-resistant household products, and some water sources. Switching to stainless steel or cast iron cookware removes one of the most direct daily exposure points. Browse non-toxic kitchen alternatives to start there.
Also see glass food containers for safer alternatives.