Can PFAS exposure during adolescence damage a teenager's kidneys?

What's actually in it

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are in nonstick cookware, fast food wrappers, stain-resistant clothing, and tap water in many areas. Teenagers absorb PFAS from all these sources daily. Their kidneys filter large volumes of blood each day, and PFAS accumulate in kidney tissue because the body can't break them down.

The teen years are a time when the kidneys are still maturing. Chemical exposure during this window may cause lasting damage.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Environ Int followed Taiwanese adolescents and young adults over multiple years, measuring both PFAS blood levels and kidney function markers. The results showed a clear dose-response relationship: the more PFAS in the blood, the worse the kidney numbers.

Teens with higher levels of PFOS and PFOA showed lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), the standard test for how well kidneys filter waste. They also had higher levels of uric acid, a waste product that should be cleared by healthy kidneys.

The decline wasn't dramatic enough to cause immediate symptoms, but the trend over time was concerning. Kidney function that starts declining in the teens puts a person at higher risk for chronic kidney disease later in life.

Parents can help by switching to stainless steel or cast iron cookware, using a water filter rated for PFAS removal, and avoiding fast food packaging. These changes reduce the daily PFAS dose that accumulates in growing kidneys over time.