Can PFAS exposure affect liver markers during pregnancy?
Human and animal evidence links gestational PFAS exposure with altered maternal liver function markers. The study does not prove nonstick cookware alone is the source.
What's actually in it
PFAS are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. People can be exposed through contaminated water, grease-resistant food packaging, dust, some stain-resistant textiles, and some nonstick coatings.
The liver helps process fats and filter chemicals from blood. Pregnancy also changes liver workload, so researchers are studying how PFAS exposure relates to liver markers during pregnancy.
What the research says
A 2026 study in Environment International measured 23 PFAS and 11 liver function markers in 601 pregnant women from the Wuxi Birth Cohort. PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, and PFUdA were linked with higher ALT. They were also linked with higher AST, GGT, and ALP.
The study also found positive associations between PFAS mixtures and liver markers, especially ALT, AST, and ALP. In pregnant rats, PFNA and PFDA altered maternal liver function markers and disrupted liver pathways tied to fatty acid biosynthesis, peroxisome, and PPAR/AMPK signaling.
This does not prove that one nonstick pan causes liver damage. It does support reducing avoidable PFAS exposure. In the kitchen, stainless steel, cast iron, glass, and ceramic are better choices than PFAS-treated nonstick cookware or grease-resistant packaging when you can choose.