‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water: How Exposure Can Impact Infant Health
February 04, 2026 | Source: EWG | by Tasha Stoiber, Ph.D.
Exposure through drinking water to the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS can harm infant health before birth, a recent study finds. The risks of exposure can include premature birth, low birth weight and even infant mortality.
University of Arizona researchers found that babies born to people living downstream from a PFAS-contaminated site were far more likely to give birth before 28 weeks and give birth to infants weighing under 2 pounds, compared to people whose drinking water sources were upstream of the site.
The research examined data on PFAS in drinking water and birth outcomes from over 11,000 births from 2010 to 2019 in New Hampshire.
Premature birth and low birth weight are key factors linked to infant mortality in the first year. The study also found that living downstream from the site was tied to an increase in infant mortality of 191%.
A science review by EWG found that PFAS are routinely detected in umbilical cord blood, crossing the placenta and reaching the developing fetus during pregnancy.
The New Hampshire study results add to the large body of evidence that exposure to PFAS can harm infants’ health before birth.
Exposure to PFAS is also linked to increased risks of certain cancers – most notably kidney and testicular cancer – as well as adverse effects on the immune system, thyroid function, liver and kidneys.