New research has surprising suggestions that eternal chemicals can cause harmful effects on male brain development.
Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), often referred to as “eternal chemicals,” have been used in consumers and industrial products since the 1940s because of their ability to resist water, oil and dirt.
The stability of their chemicals makes them effective on everything from non-stick cooking utensils to waterproof fabrics, but they are also almost impossible to disassemble in the environment.
Over time, concerns about the health risks of long-chain PFAS compounds have prompted regulatory actions and moves towards alternatives to shorter chains.
One such alternative, Perfluorohexano acid (PFHXA), is widely considered to be less harmful. However, a new study from the DelMonte Institute of Neuroscience at the University of Rochester suggests that this assumption may be false.
This study found that early exposure to PFHXA disrupts brain development in male mice and can continue to undergo behavioral and cognitive changes.
This finding challenges raising previous beliefs regarding the safety of short-chain PFAs and new questions about their long-term impact on human health.
Early life expectancy exposure can affect brain development in men
In this study, pregnant mice were given dietary insect treatment mixed with PFHXA during pregnancy and lactation.
The researchers monitored the behavioral and developmental outcomes of offspring up to adulthood. Female mice showed no measurable changes, whereas male mice exposed to PFHXA showed signs of reduced activity, increased anxiety-like behavior, and memory impairment.
These changes, although classified as mild, are in line with patterns seen in human neurodevelopmental disorders that disproportionately affect men such as autism spectrum disorders and ADHD.
This inherent male vulnerability suggests that environmental toxins such as PFHXA can have different effects on brain development based on gender, making male brains susceptible to chemical disruption during critical growth periods.
Prolonged effects on adulthood
One of the most concerning findings was the persistence of behavioral changes in male mice, much after the end of PFHXA exposure.
This study tracks mice in adulthood to confirm that cognitive and emotional disorders remain, indicating that early life exposure can cause permanent changes in brain structure or function.
This evidence challenges the assumption that short-chain PFAs, such as PFHXA, are safer just because they have less bioaccumulation than their long-chain predecessors.
The study highlights the need to investigate not only how long chemicals last in the body, but how they interact with the developing brain during the formation of life.
Regulatory gaps and the need for broader testing
PFHXA has been detected in water supply and was recently restricted by the European Union in 2024.
In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency is beginning to implement the PFA national drinking water standards with the aim of limiting millions of exposures.
However, regulations have historically focused on long chain variants, leaving a gap in monitoring for short chain alternatives like PFHXA.
Given its widespread use and environmental sustainability, the lack of comprehensive neurotoxicity data on PFHXA presents an important regulatory blind spot.
Researchers are looking for more targeted research to assess the effects of their cells and molecules, particularly in brain regions related to emotions, memory and motor functions.
Dr. Ania Majewska, professor of neuroscience and senior author of the study, explained:
“To our knowledge, PFHXA has not been evaluated for developmental neurobehavioral toxicity in rodent models.
“Future studies should evaluate the cellular and molecular effects of PFHXA, including cell type-specific effects in areas related to motor type, emotional/fear, and memory domains.
Wake-up calls for public health and policy
The findings serve as a harsh reminder that all “safer” chemical alternatives are really not safe.
The potential role of PFHXA in brain developmental disruptions, especially in men, adds a lot of evidence to underscore the importance of assessing environmental toxins through developmental lenses.
As research continues, policymakers and regulators may need to review current safety standards and expand testing requirements to include the long-term neurobehavioral effects of all PFAS compounds, not just legacy ones.
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