Forever chemicals have been found in tap water, food packaging, and even baby formula—and new research suggests they may influence how strong your child’s bones ultimately become.
A recent study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society followed 218 children from birth through age 12 and found that greater exposure to PFAS, or polyfluoroalkyl substances—a large group of man-made chemicals found in thousands of everyday products—is linked to lower bone density in children. The findings add to a growing body of evidence that “forever chemicals” may interfere with development in ways that won’t become fully apparent until adulthood.
What the Research Shows
The study measured levels of four types of PFAS in children’s blood—first at birth, then again at ages 3, 8, and 12. Since PFAS stays in the body for a long time, blood levels give a good picture of a child’s overall exposure.
Children with higher PFAS levels had lower bone density, especially in the forearm. Since adolescence, between the ages of 10 and 18, is when much of the body’s bone strength is built, the study’s findings suggest a potentially lasting impact into adulthood.
The study also showed that the effect was more pronounced in girls. Girls who had higher PFAS levels during childhood and early adolescence showed noticeably lower bone density compared with girls who had lower exposure, suggesting that girls’ bones may be particularly vulnerable during this window.
PFAS are endocrine disruptors—chemicals that interfere with the body’s hormonal signaling. They may affect bone development by mimicking, blocking, or altering levels of hormones critical to bone growth, including thyroid hormones and sex hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. The gender gap seen in the study may reflect the role estrogen plays in bone development.
“There is some evidence that PFAS may affect ovarian function and thus estrogen production, which plays a major role in bone mass accrual,” the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology team told The Epoch Times. “A general effect of PFAS on puberty would also be easier to see in girls compared to boys at this age, as boys enter puberty at a later age than girls, and at the age of 12, more girls will have started puberty than boys.”
A 2021 study published in Frontiers in Endocrinology found that factors affecting bone density during adolescence, including but not limited to chemical exposures, can have lasting effects on bone strength, with children who built more bone mass during the teenage years showing better protection against fractures in later life.
Where Exposure Comes From
PFAS can turn up in drinking water, food, food packaging, nonstick cookware, and products that resist stains or water, such as carpets, furniture, and clothing.
For children who crawl on the floor and put their hands in their mouths, PFAS can enter their bodies through household dust and contaminated surfaces, Tasha Stoiber, senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group, told The Epoch Times.
“Household dust containing PFAS shed from carpets and rugs,” Stoiber said.
Studies have detected PFAS in some infant formula, meaning exposure can begin in the earliest months of life, and even before. These chemicals can cross the placenta during pregnancy and may continue to transfer to infants through breast milk.
What Parents Can Do
PFAS are called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down easily and can linger in the body and environment for years, making them nearly impossible to avoid entirely. However, a meaningful reduction is possible.
Water: You can check how much PFAS is in your tap water by location using the Tap Water Database, which compiles testing data from public water systems across the United States. “Millions of people are exposed to PFAS through their tap water,” Stoiber said. “Filtering your drinking water with a carbon or reverse osmosis filter can reduce exposure.”
Products: When buying furniture or household textiles, parents can look for labels indicating stain-resistant or other protective chemical treatments, Stoiber said. “Many products that use these marketing terms can contain PFAS.
Cleaning: One of the easiest steps to reduce PFAS exposure is frequent hand washing and cleaning, especially before eating. “This reduces the transfer of dust from hands to mouth,” Stoiber said. “Regular vacuuming, with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter, and dusting each week reduces exposure, especially for children.”
Although more companies are becoming transparent about PFAS in their products, they’re not required to share full ingredient lists or disclose all uses of these chemicals. As a result, it can still be difficult for people to know exactly what they’re bringing into their homes, making it important to look for third-party certifications or brands that explicitly state their products are PFAS-free. The EWG has a list of brands and products that are PFAS-free.
Even if you can’t eliminate PFAS entirely, reducing exposure where you can is a practical way to help protect kids as they grow.