Can PFAS exposure during pregnancy affect your liver function?

What's actually in it

Pregnant women carry a lifetime's worth of accumulated PFAS from nonstick cookware, food packaging, water-resistant clothing, and tap water. The liver processes these chemicals, but it can't break them down. Instead, PFAS circulate through the liver repeatedly, stressing it over time. During pregnancy, the liver is already working overtime to support the growing baby.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Environ Int measured individual and mixed PFAS levels in pregnant women and tested liver function markers. Women with higher PFAS exposure had altered liver enzyme levels, indicating the liver was under stress. The effect was present for both individual PFAS compounds and for the overall PFAS mixture burden.

Abnormal liver enzymes during pregnancy can affect how the body processes medications, clears toxins, and manages cholesterol and blood sugar. Liver dysfunction during pregnancy has been linked to complications including gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.

Reducing PFAS exposure before and during pregnancy gives the liver less to deal with during an already demanding time. Switching to PFAS-free cookware, avoiding fast food packaging, and using a water filter that removes PFAS are practical first steps.