Do kids exposed to PFAS get sick more often?
Possibly. A 2025 study found children with higher PFAS exposure from everyday products needed more rounds of antibiotics, pointing to weaker immune defenses.
How kids get exposed to PFAS
PFAS are in nonstick cookware, food wrappers, stain-resistant fabrics, and some drinking water. Babies absorb PFAS before birth through the placenta and after birth through breast milk and diet. These chemicals build up in the body because they don't break down.
What the research says
A 2025 study in Int J Hyg Environ Health followed children in the Odense Child Cohort from pregnancy through early childhood. Researchers measured PFAS levels in mothers during pregnancy and in children as they grew, then tracked how often the kids were prescribed antibiotics.
Kids with higher PFAS exposure needed more rounds of antibiotics. Since antibiotics are prescribed when a child is fighting a bacterial infection, more prescriptions suggest these kids were getting sick more often or having a harder time fighting off infections on their own.
What you can do
Filter your drinking water with a system rated for PFAS removal. Avoid nonstick cookware. Choose PFAS-free food packaging when possible. Pick clothing and furniture that isn't marketed as stain-resistant.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| In utero and early childhood exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and use of antibiotics in children from the Odense Child Cohort. | Int J Hyg Environ Health | 2025 |
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