Forever Chemicals at Home: Hidden Hormone Disruptors

"Forever chemicals" is an apt description for perand polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—a family of synthetic compounds used in nonstick pans, waterproof fabrics, firefighting foams and some cosmetics.

- TDG NETWORK

Because PFAS molecules have fluorine-carbon bonds that do not easily break, they persist in the environment and accumulate in human tissues. A December 2025 study in PNAS of nearly 11,000 births in New Hampshire found that households whose well water flowed downstream of PFAS-contaminated sites experienced a 191% higher infant mortality rate, alongside increased rates of preterm birth and very low birth weight. The study underscores how even low-level, chronic PFAS exposure during pregnancy can have profound developmental consequences.