‘Forever chemicals’ linked to gut inflammation in children after early exposure

Per The Guardian, new research shows that exposure to PFAS—so-called 'forever chemicals'—during pregnancy and early childhood is linked to higher levels of intestinal inflammation in children. The Mt Sinai study tracked mother-child pairs over more than a decade, finding that PFAS mixtures may affect developing digestive systems during critical growth periods. Intestinal inflammation can lead to serious conditions including ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and colorectal cancer. While scientists had previously connected PFAS exposure to these conditions in adults, this is the first peer-reviewed study examining how the chemicals specifically impact children during their developmental window.

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