Are PFAS chemicals from nonstick cookware found in breast milk?

What's actually in it

PFAS build up in body fat and blood over years. The mammary gland actively transports some PFAS into breast milk, which means nursing mothers pass their accumulated PFAS load to their infants. Long-chain PFAS like PFOS and PFOA were found in breast milk decades ago. Newer studies show their short-chain replacements appear too.

Breast milk is still the best nutrition for most infants. But PFAS contamination in milk is a real concern that researchers track globally.

What the research says

A 2026 study measuring legacy and emerging PFAS in breast milk found multiple PFAS compounds including both older chemicals and newer short-chain alternatives in human milk samples. The presence of emerging PFAS in breast milk confirms that the switch to new-generation chemicals hasn't eliminated the breast milk transfer pathway.

Infant PFAS intake from breast milk is particularly concerning because PFAS disrupt the immune system and thyroid function during a critical developmental window. Studies consistently link PFAS exposure in infancy to weakened vaccine response and thyroid disruption.

The best strategy for reducing infant PFAS exposure via breast milk is reducing the mother's PFAS exposure before and during pregnancy. Replacing nonstick cookware, avoiding PFAS-treated packaging, and filtering tap water are the most impactful changes.