New research for the first time links prenatal exposure to PFAS 'forever chemicals' with the development of polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) later in life. PMOS, formerly known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), is estimated to impact about 13% of women, with many cases undiagnosed and its cause largely unknown.
Study Details
The peer-reviewed study, led by Harvard University, examined approximately 325 mother-daughter pairs. It found that mothers with higher PFAS levels in their blood during pregnancy were more likely to have a daughter with PMOS and moderate-to-severe acne by their later teenage years.
The findings suggest chemical exposure may be a main driver of the disease, the authors say, though they stress that more research is needed. The paper builds on previous studies linking PFAS to PMOS and a range of hormonal and developmental problems. However, it is the first to examine the impacts of prenatal exposure on the development of PMOS later in life, providing a key piece of evidence, according to public health advocates.
Expert Commentary
'This is another piece that fits in that larger body of evidence of these specific harms, like hormonal disruption,' said Tasha Stoiber, a senior scientist with the Environmental Working Group non-profit, who reviewed the study but was not an author.
Understanding PFAS
PFAS are a class of at least 16,000 compounds most frequently used to make products water-, stain-, and grease-resistant. They have been linked to cancer, birth defects, decreased immunity, high cholesterol, kidney disease, and other serious health problems. They are dubbed 'forever chemicals' because they can persist for thousands of years in the environment and are designed to be indestructible.
PMOS Symptoms and Renaming
PMOS causes symptoms like irregular periods, excessive hair growth, acne, and infertility. The disease is not caused by a problem with the ovaries themselves but is more like a response to dysregulated hormonal signals and endocrine messaging miscommunication within the body. In May, PCOS was renamed PMOS to better reflect that the issues affect the broader system, not just ovaries.
Study Population and Findings
The mothers and daughters in the study live in the Boston area and are part of Project Viva, a study started in 1999 that examines how early life experiences impact mothers and their children later in life. Teens with mothers who had higher levels of PFAS compounds in their blood at birth were 2.3 to 2.7 times more likely to develop PMOS or acne later in life.
While the study's length provides valuable insight, the authors cautioned that it has a small sample size and was overrepresented by white and college-educated women. A correlation was found between the disease and elevated levels of the N-EtFOSAA compound, which is widely found in stain guards, pesticides, water repellents for textiles, or as coatings for paper products. Once in the environment, the compound can break down into PFOS, considered among the most toxic PFAS chemicals. Another compound, PFNA, used in many of the same applications, was associated with higher odds of moderate-to-severe acne.
Avoiding PFAS
'It's not just PFOA and PFOS that we're worried about – it's the precursors and all the chemicals along the way,' Stoiber said. PFAS are difficult to avoid because they are so widely used. Still, mothers can protect themselves by avoiding stain guards and checking with textile or clothing producers to ensure that waterproof products are free from PFAS. Stoiber also recommended eating organic, whole foods cooked at home as much as possible, because those tend to have less PFAS from packaging and processing equipment.
