‘Forever chemicals’ may be killing babies: PFAS exposure linked to a 191% rise in infant deaths |

“Forever chemicals” may be far more deadly than previously understood, with new evidence suggesting they could be contributing to serious harm in specific communities exposed to contaminated drinking water. A newly published peer-reviewed study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) examined PFAS contamination in New Hampshire’s well-water system and found a 191% increase in infant deaths among babies born to mothers whose groundwater flowed downstream of PFAS-polluted sites. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of synthetic chemicals widely used in consumer and industrial products, and nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they persist in the environment and the human body.

What the researchers found about ‘forever chemicals‘

Unlike earlier broad analyses, this study focused on a natural experiment within one US state. Researchers analysed around 11,000 births in New Hampshire, comparing households whose well water travelled downstream of PFAS-contaminated areas with those using upstream sources. After adjusting for socioeconomic and medical factors, they found:

The study did not examine global PFAS exposure trends or worldwide infant mortality rates. Instead, it provides unusually strong evidence that localized PFAS contamination in drinking water may contribute directly to fatal risks among infants.The findings align with previous toxicology studies showing that PFAS can accumulate in the blood and organs of pregnant women and cross the placenta into the fetus, where they are associated with developmental disruption, immune suppression and impaired organ function. However, the new PNAS paper did not directly measure biological mechanisms in individual mothers or infants.

Why PFAS are so dangerous

PFAS are called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down naturally and can persist in people for decades. Originally used in non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, firefighting foams and industrial manufacturing, PFAS now contaminate water systems and food chains around the world.Scientific research has already linked PFAS exposure to:

The New Hampshire findings deepen existing concerns, suggesting that even relatively low but chronic exposure through drinking water may pose greater risks to infants than previously appreciated.

A growing public-health blind spot

Regulators have long struggled to manage PFAS pollution. There are more than 12,000 PFAS compounds, and only a small number have been thoroughly studied. Many regions lack enforceable PFAS standards for drinking water, and contamination often goes undetected for years.Experts reacting to the PNAS study note that PFAS regulation has historically focused on adult health outcomes, even though fetuses and infants are significantly more vulnerable to chemical toxicity. The paper highlights how environmental exposure early in life may shape lifelong health outcomes, a factor that is often overlooked in current policy frameworks.

What happens now?

Environmental groups, scientists and public-health advocates are calling for:

Some experts argue that the growing body of evidence supports a global phase-out of many PFAS chemicals, similar to the restrictions placed on leaded petrol or ozone-depleting substances.Industry groups, however, caution that while the New Hampshire natural experiment offers strong evidence, causality is not definitively proven, since the study relied on modelled exposure rather than individual PFAS blood measurements.

The warning bell is ringing

The New Hampshire study does not show a worldwide rise in infant mortality due to PFAS, nor does it claim global causation. But it provides some of the strongest evidence yet that PFAS-contaminated drinking water can have deadly consequences for infants.If confirmed by further research, the implications are profound. The communities most affected may be those least able to protect themselves, and without rapid intervention, the burden of “forever chemicals” may continue to fall on the youngest and most vulnerable.