A new study suggests that babies born in Cincinnati in the mid-2000s were permanently exposed to far more chemicals in the womb than scientists previously believed.
The findings shine a spotlight on PFAS exposure during pregnancy and raise new questions about how these persistent chemicals shape long-term health.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, are a large group of synthetic chemicals that have been used in everyday products for decades. They are found in nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, firefighting foam, and more.
Because they are not easily broken down, they remain in the environment and can accumulate in the human body over time.
Researchers have been studying a limited number of PFAS compounds for years, but this new study suggests the range of prenatal exposure may be much wider than previously revealed by testing methods.
Mining archived samples for answers
The study was led by Shelley Liu of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Her team analyzed cord blood samples taken from 120 infants born between 2003 and 2006 as part of the HOME study in Cincinnati.
By revisiting these archived samples nearly 20 years later, researchers were able to apply new experimental techniques that were not available when the babies were born. This allowed us to build a more complete picture of cumulative prenatal PFAS exposure.
Instead of testing only a short list of well-known compounds, the team used an untargeted chemical analysis approach. This method scans a wide area for hundreds or even thousands of chemicals at a time.
As a result, it captures compounds that traditional panels often miss, including new and less-studied PFAS.
42 PFAS detected in umbilical cord blood
The results were amazing. Researchers identified 42 confirmed or suspected PFAS compounds in cord blood samples. Many of these chemicals are rarely included in standard tests and have not been fully evaluated for their health effects.
The detected compounds spanned several PFAS subclasses, including per- and polyfluorinated chemicals and fluorotelomers. Taken together, these point to widespread prenatal exposure to PFAS across multiple chemical classes.
To understand this complex mix, the team developed something called the PFAS-omics burden score. They used item response theory to develop a summary measure of neonatal total PFAS exposure at birth. The score captures the combined burden rather than focusing on one or two chemicals.
This broader lens also changed some assumptions. Previous studies using narrower test panels suggested that firstborn children may have different PFAS levels compared to siblings.
A more comprehensive analysis made those differences no longer obvious, highlighting how measurement methods can shape scientific conclusions.
Why prenatal PFAS exposure is so dangerous
Pregnancy is a time when environmental exposures are particularly likely. Previous studies have linked prenatal PFAS exposure to outcomes such as low birth weight, preterm birth, altered immune function, and metabolic changes. Some studies also suggest an impact on how children respond to vaccines.
The new findings suggest that these early studies may have underestimated the true extent of fetal exposure. If infants are encountering dozens of PFAS compounds rather than just a few, researchers may need to reconsider how cumulative exposure affects development.
Professional societies are already raising awareness of this issue. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has identified reducing exposure to toxic environmental chemicals, including PFAS, as an important area of prevention efforts.
What this means for clinical care
Despite growing evidence of potential health risks, PFAS exposure is not routinely measured in medical settings. There is currently no standard screening test for use during pregnancy or early childhood.
The burden scoring method introduced in this study provides a possible path forward. In the future, similar tools could help identify individuals and communities with higher cumulative exposures.
That information can lead to closer monitoring, targeted interventions, and policy changes aimed at prevention.
For now, this research is mainly about laying the scientific foundations. The children whose cord blood was analyzed are now adolescents, providing a unique opportunity to study how early childhood PFAS exposure relates to health outcomes years later.
Next stage of research
The research team plans to follow these participants to determine whether increased PFAS exposure at birth is associated with measurable health effects in adolescence. They also plan to investigate new, less-studied PFAS compounds identified through non-targeted approaches.
The debate over PFAS exposure is likely to change as scientists refine tools to more accurately measure cumulative exposure. What once appeared to be a limited set of chemicals may represent a much more complex mixture, the effects of which may be beginning to become clear.
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