Study Links Early PFAS Exposure to Lower Adolescent Bone Density

A new study has linked early-life exposure to PFAS, a group of persistent synthetic chemicals known as "forever chemicals," to reduced bone mineral density in adolescents, potentially increasing the risk of fractures and osteoporosis later in life. Researchers analyzed data from 218 children followed from birth and found that higher levels of certain PFAS in the blood correlated with weaker bones at age 12, with the strongest associations observed for perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA.

The research, published this week in the Journal of the Endocrine Society, examined blood samples collected at birth via umbilical cord, and at ages 3, 8, and 12. Bone density was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans in six areas, including the forearm, hip, and spine. Children with elevated PFOA concentrations across all measured periods showed consistently lower bone density in the forearm, regardless of exposure timing. For other PFAS compounds, such as perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), the effects varied by age of exposure. Higher levels at ages 8 and 12 were associated with decreased density across...