25/10/2025
Worrying
A study published in 2025 by researchers from Örebro University in Sweden and the University of Turku in Finland found that higher PFAS levels in mothers’ blood during pregnancy were associated with significant changes in the brains of children at age 5.
The brain areas affected included the corpus callosum (which connects the brain's two hemispheres), the occipital lobe (involved in vision), and the hypothalamus (which regulates hormones and metabolism).
Notably, different types of PFAS had varying effects — some appeared to increase certain brain structures while others reduced them.
These findings were based on advanced brain imaging techniques and careful statistical controls, although the sample size was relatively small (51 mother-child pairs), making the results preliminary.
While the study did not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, it adds to growing evidence that PFAS could disrupt early brain development through hormonal or other biochemical pathways.
The long-term behavioral or cognitive consequences of these brain changes remain unclear, and more follow-up studies are needed.
Given that PFAS are found in nearly everyone’s blood, this research is especially alarming and highlights the urgent need for better regulation and reduced exposure, particularly among pregnant women and young children.
Scientists warn that even low levels of exposure could potentially affect neurodevelopment, and they advocate for policy changes, improved public awareness, and stricter environmental controls.
