• Babies exposed to far more â forever chemicalsâ before birth than scientists knew Before they are even born, babies may already carry a surprising mix of â forever chemicals.â Babies born between 2003 and 2006 encountered far more “forever chemicals” in the womb than researchers once recognized, according to a study published inEnvironmental Science & Technology. • These substances, known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS, include thousands of compounds that are still widely used. • Scientists do not yet fully understand their effects on human health, which makes it especially important to measure how much exposure happens before birth. • The research was led by Shelley H. • Liu, PhD, Associate Professor of Population Health Science and Policy at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. • Her team is the first to apply a data science-based method to estimate a newborn’s overall PFAS exposure using advanced chemical analysis of umbilical cord blood.

Article Summaries:

  • A new study from Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine shows that babies born between 2003 and 2006 were exposed in utero to far more per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) than previously recognized. Using non‑targeted chemical screening on stored umbilical cord blood, researchers identified 42 different PFAS compounds-many not routinely tested for-highlighting the diverse “forever chemicals” present in everyday products such as non‑stick cookware and food packaging. The team also developed PFAS‑omics burden scores to quantify overall exposure, providing a more comprehensive measure of prenatal PFAS load. The findings, published in Environmental Science & Technology, underscore the need to better understand early‑life PFAS exposure and its potential health impacts.
  • Babies exposed to far more âforever chemicalsâ before birth than scientists knew Before they are even born, babies may already carry a surprising mix of âforever chemicals.â - Date: - February 23, 2026 - Source: - The Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine - Summary: - Babies born in the early 2000s were exposed in the womb to far more âforever chemicalsâ than researchers once realized, according to a new study. By using advanced chemical screening on umbilical cord blood, scientists detected 42 different PFAS compounds, including many that standard tests do not routinely check

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