Babies exposed to far more “forever chemicals” before birth than scientists knew
Multidimensional non-targeted screening found 42 PFAS compounds in early-2000s umbilical cord blood, many missed by routine tests. Mount Sinai and collaborators will investigate links between cumulative prenatal PFAS burden and later health outcomes, aiming to refine biomonitoring tools for primary prevention.
Why it mattersPFAS detection in umbilical cord blood suggests regulators should expand prenatal biomonitoring panels and restrictions.