Can PFAS exposure during pregnancy harm your liver function?

What's actually in it

During pregnancy, your liver works overtime to support both you and your baby. PFAS from nonstick cookware, food packaging, and water accumulate in liver tissue, where they can interfere with the organ's critical functions. The liver processes hormones, filters toxins, and produces proteins needed for a healthy pregnancy.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Environ Int from the Wuxi Birth Cohort measured mixed PFAS exposure during pregnancy and assessed liver function. The researchers found that PFAS mixtures damaged liver function through mechanisms confirmed by animal studies and toxicogenomic analyses.

Liver damage during pregnancy can lead to gestational cholestasis, preeclampsia, and complications that threaten both mother and baby.

Protect your liver during pregnancy by filtering your water, replacing nonstick cookware, and choosing uncoated food packaging.