Are PFAS levels in your blood linked to a higher risk of dying from lung cancer?

What's actually in it

PFAS enter your body through nonstick cookware, stain-treated fabrics, waterproof clothing, food packaging, and contaminated water. Once inside, they stay in your blood for years. Your lungs are constantly exposed to whatever is in your blood, since every drop of blood passes through the lungs to pick up oxygen.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. While smoking is the biggest risk factor, researchers are investigating what other exposures might make it worse.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Environ Res analyzed data from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial, one of the largest cancer studies in the U.S. The researchers measured PFAS levels in participants' blood and followed them for years.

Among people who had ever smoked, those with higher blood PFAS levels had a greater chance of dying from lung cancer. The link was strongest for specific PFAS compounds including PFOS and PFDA.

The researchers controlled for smoking intensity, age, and other cancer risk factors. The PFAS link held up even after accounting for these variables, suggesting PFAS exposure is an independent risk factor, not just a bystander.

The study didn't find a strong link in people who never smoked, suggesting PFAS may worsen damage that smoking starts. Reducing PFAS intake through cookware choices, water filtration, and avoiding stain treatments is especially wise for current and former smokers.