Do PFAS from nonstick cookware cross the placenta to your baby?
Yes. PFAS cross the placenta. Research links maternal PFAS exposure to blood sugar problems and altered growth in newborns.
What's actually in it
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are in nonstick cookware, grease-resistant food packaging, stain-resistant clothing, and hundreds of other consumer products. They build up in your blood over years.
When you're pregnant, those PFAS in your bloodstream don't stay there. The placenta doesn't filter them out. Studies measuring PFAS in cord blood confirm that what's in your body gets into your baby's body.
What the research says
A 2026 study in Environ Sci Technol tracked PFAS across the placenta and found connections to glucose imbalance and altered infant growth. Babies born to mothers with higher PFAS levels showed differences in blood sugar regulation and body weight patterns.
This matters because disrupted glucose metabolism in infancy is linked to higher risks of metabolic problems later in life. The placenta is supposed to protect the fetus, but PFAS are small enough and persistent enough to pass through.
If you're pregnant or planning to be, switching away from nonstick cookware to cast iron or stainless steel is one of the most direct ways to lower your PFAS intake from cooking.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| PFAS Across the Placenta and Its Potential Impact on Glucose Imbalance and Infant Growth | Environ Sci Technol | 2026 |
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