Can PFAS exposure be linked to lower kidney function?
Yes. A 2026 study linked PFAS exposure with lower kidney filtering and inflammation.
What is actually in it
PFAS are long-lasting chemicals used to resist oil, water, and stains. They can show up in drinking water, some food packaging, and some non-stick cookware.
Your kidneys help filter waste from your blood. That makes kidney research on PFAS important, especially when exposure happens over many years.
What the research says
A 2026 study in J Hazard Mater combined human data with mouse experiments. In people, both older and newer PFAS were linked with lower estimated glomerular filtration rate, a marker of kidney filtering.
The same study found that inflammation partly explained the PFAS and kidney-function link. In mice, one PFAS replacement chemical was linked with higher serum creatinine, another kidney stress marker.
This does not mean one pan or container will harm your kidneys. It does mean PFAS exposure is worth lowering where you can. For food, start with glass storage and avoid heating food in plastic.