‘Pregnant women exposed to PFAS risk, heart diseases, obesity’

Women with higher levels of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during pregnancy may experience long-term weight gain and heart problems. The new research published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism showed that PFAS are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that can interfere with hormones causing health issues such as obesity, infertility and cancer.
  
PFAS are long-lasting man-made chemicals that break down very slowly over time found in food packaging, cookware, clothes, drinking water, personal care products and many other consumer goods.
   
Using 547 pregnant women in their early 30s, the researchers studied and compared their PFAS levels during pregnancy with cardio-metabolic health outcomes at age 50 and found that women with higher levels of PFAS in their blood during early pregnancy weighed more, as well as had more body fat at 50 years old than those with lower levels, potentially making them more susceptible to obesity and heart health problems later in life.
  
The author, Jordan Burdeau, explained that their research supports the idea that pregnancy may be a sensitive period for PFAS exposure, which can be associated with long-term weight gain and subsequent adverse cardio-metabolic health outcomes in women.

“Our findings may improve understanding of the effects of PFAS on cardio-metabolic health during pregnancy, which in turn may improve early prevention or detection of adverse cardio-metabolic health outcomes in women,” he added.