PFAS Are Damaging Pregnant Women's Livers
NonToxCo Research
Science & Safety Team · 4/6/2026
Your liver filters your blood, processes nutrients, and removes toxins. During pregnancy, it works harder than ever. Now research shows PFAS chemicals are actively disrupting that process in pregnant women.
The Wuxi Birth Cohort Results
A 2026 study in Environ Int used data from the Wuxi Birth Cohort in China, combined with animal studies and toxicogenomic analyses, to examine how individual and mixed PFAS exposures affect liver function during pregnancy.
The researchers found that gestational exposure to both individual PFAS compounds and PFAS mixtures disrupted maternal liver function. The effects weren't limited to one type of PFAS. Multiple compounds contributed to the damage, and the mixture effects were significant.
Why the Liver Is a PFAS Target
PFAS accumulate in the liver. That's been known for years. But this study adds pregnancy-specific evidence. The liver is under extra strain during pregnancy, processing hormones and nutrients for two. Adding PFAS to the mix throws off liver enzymes and disrupts normal function.
The animal studies and toxicogenomic analyses confirmed the mechanisms: PFAS alter gene expression in liver tissue, changing how the organ processes fats, sugars, and bile acids.
What You Can Do
If you're pregnant, get PFAS out of your kitchen. Ditch nonstick pans. Avoid fast food wrappers and microwave popcorn bags. Filter your water with a system rated for PFAS. Switch to safer products from our non-toxic baby products collection.
Also see glass food storage for safer alternatives.