Why Children Are More Vulnerable
The Biology of Higher Risk
Several biological and behavioral factors make children more susceptible to PFAS than adults at the same exposure levels.
Developing systems are more sensitive
The immune system, endocrine system, brain, and reproductive organs are all under active development during pregnancy, infancy, and childhood. PFAS are endocrine disruptors — they interfere with hormone signaling. Hormones regulate development. Interference during critical developmental windows can alter how systems form in ways that persist into adulthood and may not be reversible.
Higher relative intake
Children drink more water, eat more food, and breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. If a child’s drinking water contains PFAS at the same concentration as an adult’s, the child receives a higher dose relative to body mass. This is a fundamental principle of pediatric toxicology and it applies directly to PFAS.
Hand-to-mouth behavior
Young children touch surfaces and put their hands in their mouths repeatedly throughout the day. PFAS shed from treated fabrics, carpeting, and upholstery into household dust. Children who play on PFAS-treated carpets and then put their hands in their mouths receive dust-based PFAS exposure that adults in the same home do not.
Longer time horizon for effects
A child exposed to PFAS at age two has decades ahead for those effects to manifest. A 30-year-old exposed at the same level has a shorter window. This is why the EPA treats children and pregnant women as priority protected populations when setting PFAS standards.
Before Birth
Prenatal Exposure
PFAS cross the placental barrier. Studies consistently show that cord blood PFAS levels reflect the mother’s PFAS body burden. A 2021 study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found PFAS in cord blood samples from newborns across multiple U.S. regions.
Reduced Birth Weight
Multiple studies show an association between higher maternal PFAS levels and lower birth weight, a risk factor for several long-term health outcomes.
Preterm Birth
Some studies link higher prenatal PFAS exposure to increased risk of preterm delivery, though findings are not entirely consistent across studies.
Altered Hormone Levels
Prenatal PFAS exposure associates with changes in thyroid hormone levels in newborns, with potential implications for brain and metabolic development.
Immune Effects
Children with higher prenatal PFAS exposure show reduced antibody responses to vaccines in childhood — a sign of impaired immune system development measurable years after birth.
Neurodevelopmental Effects
Emerging research suggests associations between prenatal PFAS exposure and attention, behavior, and learning outcomes.
Altered Puberty Timing
Some studies associate childhood PFAS exposure with earlier onset of puberty in girls, consistent with PFAS acting as endocrine disruptors.
Breast Milk
PFAS Transfer Through Breast Milk
PFAS transfer through breast milk. Studies have detected PFAS in breast milk samples globally, including in the United States. This is a genuine finding and it raises real questions for parents. The scientific and medical consensus is clear: the benefits of breastfeeding for infant health substantially outweigh the risks of PFAS exposure through breast milk for most women living in areas without extreme contamination.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization both recommend breastfeeding as the first choice for infant nutrition, with awareness of environmental contaminant exposure as a factor to discuss with a healthcare provider — particularly for mothers who live near known contamination sites or use contaminated well water.
Formula and Baby Food
Infant Formula and Baby Food
Powdered infant formula prepared with PFAS-contaminated tap water delivers PFAS to infants at high concentrations because infants consume large volumes of water relative to their body weight. If your tap water contains PFAS, this is the most important reason to use a certified filter for formula preparation.
Ready-to-feed liquid formula reduces water-based exposure but is not guaranteed to be PFAS-free. Some testing has detected PFAS in both powdered and ready-to-feed formulas, though levels vary by brand and production lot. The FDA is monitoring PFAS in infant formula but has not set limits specific to formula as of early 2026.
How Children Are Exposed
Exposure Routes by Stage
STATE
Primary Exposure Routes
Before birth
Maternal PFAS body burden transfers to the developing fetus through the placenta. No intervention exists after conception — reducing maternal exposure before and during pregnancy is the only preventive action.
Infants 0–12 months
Breast milk. Formula prepared with contaminated tap water. Children drink more water per pound than adults.
Toddlers 1–4 years
Drinking water, food packaging, household dust from treated carpets and furniture through hand-to-mouth contact. Higher dust ingestion than adults.
School age
Drinking water, food packaging, some children’s products. Fast food packaging at school or home.
Adolescents
Drinking water, personal care products including cosmetics. PFAS associations with puberty timing are most relevant in this stage.
Priority Actions by Life Stage
What Parents Can Do
01
Filter Your Drinking Water
Install an NSF/ANSI Standard 58 certified reverse osmosis filter at your kitchen tap. Use filtered water for drinking, cooking, and formula preparation. This addresses the single highest-volume daily exposure source. Verify certification at nsf.org before purchasing.
02
Check Your Water Supply First
Search ewg.org/tapwater with your zip code, or request your utility’s Consumer Confidence Report. If you have a private well, arrange your own PFAS test. See our Testing Your Water page.
03
Replace Worn Non-Stick Cookware
Scratched or flaking non-stick surfaces release PFAS into food during cooking. Cast iron, stainless steel, and ceramic-coated alternatives are PFAS-free.
04
Reduce Dust Exposure for Young Children
Vacuum frequently with a HEPA-filter vacuum. Wash children’s hands regularly, especially before eating. If you have PFAS-treated carpeting, consider replacement with hard flooring or untreated rugs.
05
Avoid Reheating Food in Packaging
Fast food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, and pizza boxes contain or have historically contained PFAS coatings. Transfer food to a glass or ceramic dish before microwaving.
06
Choose PFAS-Free Children’s Products
Look for PFAS-free labeling on waterproof outerwear, rain gear, car seat covers, bibs, and bedding. Check the EWG Skin Deep database for personal care products used on children.
07
If You Are Pregnant, Start Now
Prenatal exposure is the earliest and most consequential window. Filtering your drinking water and reducing food packaging exposure during pregnancy reduces what transfers to your child before birth.
Better Alternatives
