PFAS exposure linked to childhood intestinal inflammation

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai published a study on July 10, 2026, in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, finding that prenatal and early-life exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is associated with increased intestinal inflammation in childhood. The study measured PFAS in maternal blood, umbilical cord blood, and newborn dried blood spots across three birth cohorts in the United States and Mexico, following children for up to 11 years. Higher PFAS mixture levels were consistently linked to elevated fecal calprotectin, a biomarker of intestinal inflammation. Both legacy and replacement PFAS compounds were associated with inflammation. The observational study cannot prove causation but suggests early-life PFAS exposure may influence future inflammatory bowel disease risk. The research team plans continued follow-up. The study involved collaborators from multiple institutions and was supported by several foundations and the United States — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.