Exposure to ‘Forever Chemicals’ Before Birth Linked To Higher Blood Pressure in Kids

Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — toxic chemicals found in products like nonstick pans and personal care items — can linger in the body for up to 20 years, earning them the nickname “forever chemicals,” professor and lead study author Mingyu Zhang of Harvard Medical School told ABC News.

Forever chemicals have come under growing scrutiny in recent years because they build up in the body and may trigger health problems, according to a growing body of research.

In this new study, Zhang and his team found that when babies were exposed in the womb to specific types of forever chemicals — PFDeA, PFNA, and PFUnA — they had higher systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) later in life, possibly because these chemicals can cross the placenta during pregnancy and affect early development.