When Sara Blixt was pregnant, she avoided canned tuna—her biggest craving—over fears of mercury harming her unborn son. After giving birth, she struggled to breastfeed, stopping after just three months.
Three years later, she discovered the real danger: Her town’s water supply in Ronneby, Sweden, was contaminated with PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), toxic “forever chemicals” from firefighting foam used at a nearby military base.
Blixt had unknowingly passed PFAS to her children—first through pregnancy and breastfeeding, then by mixing formula with contaminated tap water. Today, her kids are healthy, but research warns that PFAS exposure in pregnancy can lead to birth defects, liver disease, language delays, and even childhood cancer.
PFAS: A Growing Threat to Mothers and Babies
PFAS are synthetic chemicals found in nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, food packaging, and cosmetics. They linger in the body for years, with PFOS (a common PFAS type) taking 3-5 years to reduce by half.
“Everyone carries some PFAS,” says Dr. Tracey Woodruff, a reproductive health expert at UCSF. But pregnancy is a uniquely vulnerable time. The placenta, which nourishes the fetus, can transfer 30%-80% of a mother’s PFAS levels to her baby.
Studies link high PFAS exposure to:
- Lower birth weights (up to 8.8 oz lighter babies)
- Childhood obesity (rapid weight gain after low birth weight)
- Pregnancy complications (high blood pressure, preeclampsia)
- Weaker immune responses in children
- Developmental delays, including speech disorders
Breastfeeding Challenges and PFAS
PFAS also pass through breast milk, though less efficiently than via the placenta. Research shows:
- Breastfed infants see a 3%-5% monthly rise in PFAS levels.
- PFAS-exposed mothers often produce less nutritious milk, with lower lactose and imbalanced fats.
- Many stop breastfeeding earlier than planned due to low milk supply.
Yet experts still recommend breastfeeding—its benefits (immune support, brain development) may outweigh PFAS risks.
How to Reduce PFAS Exposure
While avoiding PFAS entirely is nearly impossible, these steps can help:
- Avoid nonstick pans (use cast iron, stainless steel, or glass).
- Skip microwave popcorn (PFAS-lined bags + heat = toxic combo).
- Limit waterproof clothing and makeup (foundation wearers have 50% higher PFAS levels).
- Filter water if living near industrial sites or military bases.
- Check local water contamination maps (U.S. & EU databases exist).
For those with high exposure, cholestyramine, a cholesterol drug, shows promise in reducing PFAS levels by 15%-60%—but more research is needed.
The Bigger Problem: Industry and Regulation
“The chemical industry created this,” says Woodruff. Without government bans on PFAS, avoiding them is a constant battle. For pregnant women, the stress of navigating these risks is yet another burden—one that science says harms babies too.
Bottom line: PFAS are everywhere, but small changes can lower exposure. For mothers like Blixt, awareness is the first step toward protection.
Key Takeaways:
- PFAS harm fetal development, breastfeeding, and long-term child health.
- Filter water, avoid nonstick cookware, and check local contamination risks.
- Breastfeeding benefits still outweigh PFAS risks for most mothers.
- Policy change—not just individual action—is needed to curb PFAS pollution.
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