New research from the University of California has found a potential link between exposure to 'forever chemicals' and an increased risk of childhood leukaemia. The study, published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, analysed dried blood spots from newborns in Los Angeles County over a 15-year period.
The research included 125 children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and 219 children without cancer, all born between 2000 and 2015. Among 17 types of PFAS chemicals detected, PFOA and PFOS were found at the highest levels. Children with higher PFAS levels had increased odds of developing leukaemia, though the researchers cautioned that estimates were not precise.
Co-author Veronica Vieira, professor at the University of California, Irvine, said: 'This research moves us closer to understanding what babies are exposed to from the very start by directly measuring PFAS present at birth.' She added: 'By capturing exposures during a critical window of development, we are gaining a clearer picture of how environmental contaminants may contribute to childhood cancer risk.'
PFAS chemicals are widely used in non-stick cookware, food packaging, waterproof fabrics, and firefighting foam. They do not degrade easily and can accumulate in the body. The study does not prove cause and effect but adds to growing evidence of cancer risks from early-life exposure.
In the UK, the use of PFAS in Teflon cookware was banned in 2005, and MPs have called for further restrictions on non-essential uses, including in school uniforms and food packaging, with a phased ban proposed from 2027.
