Publication: Personal care product use and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in pregnant and lactating people in the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals study. Hall AM, Ashley-Martin J, Liang CL, Papandonatos GD, Arbuckle TE, Borghese, MM, Buckley JP, Cecil KM, Chen A, Dodds L, Fisher M, Lanphear BP, Rawn DFK, Yolton K, Braun JM. Environment International 2024 Oct 22;193:109094. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.109094
New research using MIREC data found a link between the use of personal care products during pregnancy or lactation and elevated levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in maternal blood and milk. PFAS, synthetic chemicals used to manufacture many consumer products, have been associated with a range of adverse health effects and birth outcomes.
PFAS are sometimes called "forever chemicals" because of their persistence in the environment, and therefore in every stage of the food chain. These chemicals can be found in food and water, along with many common products, and people have limited ways to modify their personal exposure. Few studies have evaluated the impact of personal care product use on PFAS levels during pregnancy and post-partum.
The researchers measured levels of four commonly found types of PFAS in MIREC participant blood and milk samples collected during early pregnancy and post-partum. They compared the participants’ use of personal care products such as nail polish, makeup, and hair dye, to the PFAS levels in their samples.
The researchers found that more frequent use of some personal care products was associated with higher PFAS concentrations in the blood plasma and milk of participants. The results indicate that the use of hair sprays and gels, nail care products, fragrances, makeup, and hair dyes may be modifiable sources of exposure to PFAS during pregnancy or while lactating.
This research, along with growing scientific evidence, can help inform PFAS regulation and guide individual choices to reduce PFAS exposure. Future studies examining differences in specific products, and the timing and frequency of product use, could contribute further valuable knowledge.
Further Reading
Read the full publication in Environment International.
If you’re curious about PFAS in specific personal care products, the non-profit organization Environmental Working Group has a database of many products and their ingredients. Some PFAS are listed there—look for ingredient names containing “fluoro”.
