Parents living in communities contaminated with PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” face difficult decisions about breastfeeding as research suggests these toxic substances can pass to infants through breastmilk, raising concerns about their long-term health effects.
Nicole Williams writes for Undark Magazine.
In short:
- A mother in Massachusetts reflects on nursing her child while living in a community with PFAS-contaminated water.
- PFAS chemicals, found in firefighting foam and linked to health risks like immune dysfunction and cancers, are persistent in the environment and bioaccumulate in humans.
- Research continues to explore PFAS’s multigenerational effects, including possible links to low birth weights, kidney issues and changes in infants’ gut microbiomes.
Key quote:
“PFAS contamination is not abstract; it is tangible and shows up in the little bodies that we create.”
— Nicole Williams, environmental writer
Why this matters:
One of the most striking aspects of PFAS is their near-universal presence in the U.S. population. Studies show that almost all Americans carry traces of these chemicals in their blood, raising questions about long-term health risks. Early research has linked PFAS exposure to a range of issues, including developmental delays in children, reduced immune function, hormonal disruptions and an increased risk of certain cancers. However, much about their health effects remains unclear, especially at the low levels most people are exposed to.
