Is tap water rewriting your baby’s blueprint?
This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science.
PFAS are synthetic “forever chemicals” used in nonstick pans that NEVER decompose. Now, PFAS chemicals are in drinking water everywhere in tiny amounts. Is it enough to harm developing babies?
Enter Melle Säve-Söderbergh and team from the Swedish Food Agency. They tracked thousands of births! PFAS chemicals in the mothers’ drinking water were measured during pregnancy. Moms were then followed – up through delivery – for birth defects.
Babies exposed even to low PFAS levels showed higher risk for genetic defects and nervous system malformations.
So, when you’re expecting, a water filter might be just as important as popping those prenatal vitamins!
Reference: Säve-Söderbergh, M., Gyllenhammar, I., Schillemans, T., Lindfeldt, E., Vogs, C., Donat-Vargas, C., Ankarberg, E. H., Glynn, A., Ahrens, L., Helte, E., & Åkesson, A. (2025). Fetal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water and congenital malformations: A nation-wide register-based study. Environment International, 198, 109381. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2025.109381