Can PFAS exposure during pregnancy cause preeclampsia?
Possibly. Pregnant women with higher PFAS blood levels had an increased risk of preeclampsia, a dangerous blood pressure condition.
What's actually in it
PFAS from nonstick pans, food packaging, and treated fabrics accumulate in your blood over years. During pregnancy, your blood volume increases and these chemicals circulate to the placenta. Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication involving dangerously high blood pressure that can harm both mother and baby.
About 1 in 25 pregnancies in the US are affected by preeclampsia. Understanding what triggers it could save lives.
What the research says
A 2026 study in Environ Res used data from the ECHO Cohort, a large multi-site pregnancy study, to test whether PFAS exposure biomarkers predicted preeclampsia risk.
Women with higher levels of certain PFAS chemicals in early pregnancy had a greater chance of developing preeclampsia later in the pregnancy. The association held up after controlling for age, BMI, and other risk factors.
PFAS may trigger preeclampsia by damaging blood vessel lining and disrupting the way the placenta develops blood supply. Both of these are known steps in the preeclampsia pathway.
Reducing PFAS exposure before and during pregnancy could help lower your risk. Switching away from nonstick cookware, avoiding greasy fast-food wrappers, and filtering your tap water are practical first steps.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Association between gestational PFAS exposure biomarkers and risk of preeclampsia in the ECHO Cohort. | Environ Res | 2026 |
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