Can prenatal PFAS exposure affect your baby's growth after birth?

What's actually in it

PFAS are synthetic chemicals found in nonstick pans, water-resistant clothing, food wrappers, and contaminated drinking water. They pass from a pregnant woman's blood through the placenta to the baby. By the time a baby is born, PFAS are already stored in their tiny body.

What the research says

A 2026 study in J Hazard Mater followed a group of babies from before birth through early childhood. The researchers found that higher prenatal PFAS exposure was linked to changes in catch-up growth among children who were born small or with other adverse birth outcomes.

Some babies exposed to more PFAS grew faster than expected after birth, a pattern called rapid catch-up growth. Rapid catch-up growth in early childhood is tied to higher risk of obesity and metabolic problems later in life. Other babies showed slower-than-expected growth, which carries its own health risks.

To lower your baby's PFAS exposure before birth, avoid nonstick cookware, skip stain-resistant treatments on baby gear, and filter your drinking water with a system that removes PFAS.