- New research links PFAS-contaminated groundwater to poor infant health.
- Health-related social costs from PFAS total at least $8 billion each year.
- Long-chain PFAS no longer made in the United States remain in soil and water.
- Findings suggest significant benefits from cleanup and treatment efforts.
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 — Research released December 8, 2025, by the University of Arizona
and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences provides new evidence connecting contaminated drinking water to severe infant health impacts. The study examines exposure to two long-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFOA and PFOS. These chemicals are no longer manufactured in the United States, yet they remain in soils and continue to move slowly downward into groundwater.
The research team reviewed all births in New Hampshire from 2010 through 2019. The analysis compared mothers whose household wells were located downstream, in groundwater terms, of known PFAS release sites with those whose wells were located upstream. Because families generally do not know the precise flow paths feeding their wells, the two groups were considered comparable aside from PFAS exposure.
The differences were substantial. Downstream wells were linked to markedly worse birth outcomes, including higher infant mortality in the first year of life, more preterm births before 28 weeks of gestation, and more births involving infants weighing less than 2.2 pounds. These findings build on earlier work suggesting that PFAS may be harmful to pregnant mothers and infants, while offering a new population-scale look at real-world exposure.
Economic Losses Extend Across the Country.
After reviewing the health data, the researchers calculated the lifetime social costs associated with these outcomes. They estimated that PFAS contamination adds at least $8 billion annually to the economic burden faced by families across the contiguous United States. That total includes medical care, long-term health effects, and reduced future earnings linked to early-life complications.
According to study coauthor Derek Lemoine, removing PFAS from drinking water would yield both health benefits and long-term economic gains. In his words, “Removing PFAS from drinking water not only results in drastically improved health outcomes. It also produces a significant long-term economic benefit.”
While PFOA and PFOS have been phased out, the research underscores that the bulk of these chemicals remains in soils. As hydrologist Bo Guo explained, the amount observed in groundwater represents only a small portion of what has been released, and the remainder continues to migrate slowly.
Implications for Water Systems and Households.
PFAS were originally developed to create heat-, oil-, and water-resistant coatings and have been used in consumer products and firefighting applications. Their persistence has earned them the label “forever chemicals.” Although the most heavily studied long-chain PFAS are no longer produced domestically, newer PFAS remain in use and are a growing subject of research.
The study’s authors noted that activated carbon systems can remove long-chain PFAS from drinking water, whether installed at public water treatment facilities or in individual homes. For pregnant mothers living near past PFAS releases, the researchers stated that filtration could be a prudent measure.
For water managers, the findings contribute to the ongoing national discussion about monitoring, treatment, and potential funding for cleanup. The results also point to the value of additional study into long-term exposure and the effects of newer PFAS compounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are PFAS?
PFAS are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances used for decades in products designed to resist heat, oil, and water. They break down very slowly, which has led to widespread environmental persistence.
Why were PFOA and PFOS the focus of this study?
These long-chain PFAS compounds are well-documented, no longer manufactured in the United States, and have been found at many legacy contamination sites. They remain present in soils and continue to move into groundwater.
What health effects were identified?
Mothers receiving water from wells located downstream of PFAS release sites experienced higher rates of first-year infant mortality, more extremely preterm births, and more births involving extremely low-weight infants.
How were the costs calculated?
Researchers evaluated the lifetime economic impacts of these health outcomes, including medical expenses, long-term conditions, and reduced lifetime earnings. They estimated at least $8 billion in annual costs across the contiguous United States.
Do water filters remove PFAS?
Activated carbon systems can remove long-chain PFAS such as PFOA and PFOS. These systems may be used by water utilities or installed in individual homes.
What does this mean for communities?
The findings support the importance of monitoring water supplies, treating known contamination, and evaluating cleanup options. They also highlight the potential value of studying newer PFAS compounds and understanding their long-term impacts.
