Can PFAS exposure in infants reduce how well measles vaccines work?

What's actually in it

Infants receive PFAS through breast milk, formula made with contaminated water, and ambient exposure from household products. PFAS accumulate quickly in infants because their body weight is low and their intake per kilogram is proportionally higher than adults. Infants also have immature immune systems that are more vulnerable to chemical disruption.

The measles vaccine works by stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies. If PFAS have already disrupted immune function by the time the vaccine is given, the antibody response may be weaker, leaving less protection than expected.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Environ Toxicol Pharmacol measured PFAS levels in infants in Burkina Faso before and after measles vaccination. Infants with higher pre-vaccination PFAS concentrations had lower baseline measles antibody levels. Some PFAS compounds also showed associations with lower post-vaccination antibody titers.

The Burkina Faso setting is relevant globally because it shows PFAS immune effects in a population without heavy industrial PFAS exposure, suggesting the effect appears at the lower background levels seen worldwide, not only in areas of heavy contamination.

Measles is highly contagious. Vaccine-conferred protection depends on achieving a sufficient antibody level. If PFAS reduce that level in infants, herd immunity thresholds become harder to maintain in populations with high PFAS exposure.

Reducing infant PFAS exposure starts before birth: lowering maternal body burden through dietary choices and product substitutions reduces transfer in breast milk. Filtering formula water and reducing PFAS-treated textiles in the nursery also help.