The team focused on PFAS mixtures rather than single chemicals, using advanced untargeted chemical analysis to detect a broad range of PFAS compounds in biological samples collected early in life. Maternal blood taken during pregnancy, umbilical cord blood, and newborn dried blood spots were analyzed before researchers followed children for as long as 11 years.

A central outcome was fecal calprotectin, a widely used biomarker that reflects inflammation in the gut and is clinically associated with increased future risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Importantly, the authors emphasize that elevated calprotectin does not mean a child will definitely develop IBD; it signals immune activity in the intestine.

Across three U.S. and Mexico birth cohorts, children with higher PFAS mixture levels showed higher fecal calprotectin later in childhood. The consistency of the pattern across cohorts strengthens the argument that early-life PFAS exposure may influence intestinal immune development during a sensitive window.

The researchers report that both older “legacy” PFAS and newer replacement PFAS were associated with inflammation-related signals. This suggests that evolving PFAS products may not eliminate health risks, at least for gut-related outcomes.

The study’s design is observational, so it cannot prove PFAS directly cause inflammation or IBD. Still, the findings provide evidence linking prenatal and early exposure to inflammatory trajectories that could set the stage for chronic disease.

Researchers plan to continue long-term follow-up to determine whether children with higher early-life PFAS exposure and elevated fecal calprotectin are more likely to develop IBD later. The results also highlight the potential public health value of reducing PFAS exposure during pregnancy and early childhood.

Supported by major research organizations including the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the work involved collaborators from multiple international institutions, reinforcing the study’s broad relevance.

Subject of Research: People
Article Title: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in early life is associated with childhood intestinal inflammation: analyses of three birth cohorts
News Publication Date: 16-Jul-2026 (article published 10-Jul-2026)
Web References: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1542356526005136
References: 10.1016/j.cgh.2026.07.001
Image Credits: Not provided

Keywords: PFAS, forever chemicals, pregnancy exposure, early-life biomarkers, fecal calprotectin, intestinal inflammation, childhood IBD risk, Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology