PFAS-Contaminated Water Raised Blood Pressure in Pregnant Women
NonToxCo Research
Science & Safety Team · 4/7/2026
In a Swedish town where drinking water was contaminated with PFAS, pregnant women with higher exposure were more likely to have dangerously elevated blood pressure throughout pregnancy.
What Happened in Ronneby
A 2026 study in Environ Res tracked 214 pregnant women in Ronneby, Sweden, where a third of the population had been drinking PFAS-contaminated water. Researchers measured nine PFAS compounds in their blood and collected 1,705 blood pressure readings throughout their pregnancies.
Women with the highest PFAS levels (median 16.1 ng/mL for PFOS) were more likely to follow the high blood pressure trajectory, meaning elevated readings from start to finish.
Why Pregnancy Blood Pressure Matters
High blood pressure during pregnancy isn't just uncomfortable. It can lead to preeclampsia, premature birth, low birth weight, and in severe cases, death of mother or baby. Having elevated BP throughout the entire pregnancy, not just at the end, is an especially bad sign.
Both individual PFAS compounds and the mixture as a whole increased the odds of the dangerous BP pattern.
It Came From the Tap
The contamination came from firefighting foam that seeped into the water supply. These women were exposed just by drinking tap water. They had no way to know their water was contaminated until testing revealed it.
How to Protect Yourself
If you're pregnant or planning to be, filter your drinking water with a system rated for PFAS removal. Avoid nonstick cookware and stain-resistant products. Check out non-toxic baby products to reduce exposure during this critical time.
Also see glass food storage for safer alternatives.