In the quiet record of newborn blood drawn across Los Angeles County between 2000 and 2015, researchers at UC Irvine have found a faint but troubling signal. Among 344 children, those later diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia more often carried higher levels of PFOA and PFOS, members of the 'forever chemical' family that lingers in water, cookware, packaging and cosmetics. The finding is a thread, not a verdict: it suggests that the chemicals a child meets before birth may contribute to a childhood cancer whose rise across industrialized nations remains unexplained, but it cannot yet s
Study Links Prenatal 'Forever Chemical' Exposure to Childhood Leukemia Risk, Though Cause Remains Unproven
Children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were among the study's participants, with prenatal chemical exposure examined as a possible contributing factor.
Cannot say they cause cancer, only that they might contribute to risk
Mark
Start with the basic design. What did the researchers actually compare?
Mimi
Newborn blood from 125 children who later developed acute lymphoblastic leukemia, against 219 who stayed cancer-free. All were born in Los Angeles County between 2000 and 2015.
Mark
And what did they find?
Mimi
Seventeen PFAS in the samples, mostly PFOA and PFOS. Higher levels went with a greater likelihood of leukemia, and having both together went with more risk still.
Luke
Let's be clear about the verb, though. That's association. The researchers themselves say they can't claim forever chemicals cause cancer.
Mimi
Right, they say the chemicals might contribute to risk. That's the careful reading.
Mark
Why does measuring blood at birth matter?
Mimi
It captures exposure at a critical developmental window directly, rather than guessing from surveys. That's Vieira's point.
Luke
But 344 children in one county is small. Rena Jones, who wasn't part of the study, said exactly that. We don't know whether this holds elsewhere.
Mark
There's the socioeconomic wrinkle too.
Mimi
Yes. Higher PFOS tracked with older, more educated parents with private insurance, likely because of pricier products like Scotchgard or makeup. Vieira calls it an indirect measure of status.
Luke
And the 26 other PFAS they found? Nobody knows how toxic those are. The source says so plainly, so we shouldn't fill that gap ourselves.
O Pulso
- Newborn blood from 344 Los Angeles County children is revealing 17 PFAS compounds, with PFOA and PFOS standing out.
- Children who later developed acute lymphoblastic leukemia carried higher levels of these chemicals than cancer-free peers.
- Researchers are urging caution, noting the study is small, geographically narrow, and cannot prove causation.
- Levels fell for children born later in the period, offering a hopeful sign that phase-outs are working.
- Scientists are calling for larger studies that include newer PFAS compounds whose toxicity is still unclear.
In the quiet record of newborn blood drawn across Los Angeles County between 2000 and 2015, researchers at UC Irvine have found a faint but troubling signal. Among 344 children, those later diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia more often carried higher levels of PFOA and PFOS, members of the 'forever chemical' family that lingers in water, cookware, packaging and cosmetics. The finding is a thread, not a verdict: it suggests that the chemicals a child meets before birth may contribute to a childhood cancer whose rise across industrialized nations remains unexplained, but it cannot yet say that they cause it. Later births show lower levels, a small sign that some of these compounds are being withdrawn from use, even as many of their relatives remain poorly understood.
Researchers at UC Irvine turned to a record that holds some of the earliest exposures a person ever receives: blood drawn from newborns born in Los Angeles County between 2000 and 2015. In those samples they identified 17 different PFAS, the so-called forever chemicals that break down slowly and build up in the body.
The study followed 344 children, 125 of whom were later diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common childhood cancer. The remaining 219 stayed cancer-free. Most of the detected compounds were PFOA and PFOS, and higher levels of them were linked to a greater likelihood of leukemia, with the risk appearing stronger when both were present together. The researchers stressed that they can only say these chemicals might contribute to risk, not that they cause cancer.
The team's motivation reflects a broader worry: childhood cancer rates have climbed in recent decades in industrialized countries, pointing toward environmental factors. The exposure patterns also revealed social divides, as children of older, more educated, privately insured parents had higher PFOS levels, likely because these chemicals are common in pricier products.
Outside experts urged restraint while acknowledging the growing body of evidence. There was also encouraging news: children born later showed lower levels, suggesting some persistent chemicals are being phased out. The researchers pointed to drinking filtered water as a practical step, and to the need for larger studies covering the 26 additional PFAS they found, many of which remain poorly understood.
Researchers at UC Irvine went looking in a place that holds a record of the earliest exposures: blood drawn from newborns. In samples from babies born in Los Angeles County between 2000 and 2015, they found 17 different PFAS, the family of compounds better known as forever chemicals.
The samples came from 344 children in all. Of those, 125 were later diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common childhood cancer. The other 219 stayed cancer-free and served as the comparison group. The study was published in April in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology.
Most of what the team detected was PFOA and PFOS. Higher levels of these were associated with a greater likelihood of developing the leukemia, and when both chemicals were present together, the correlation with cancer risk grew stronger. The researchers are careful about what that means. They cannot say forever chemicals cause cancer, only that the chemicals might contribute to the risk.
The term covers roughly 14,000 man-made compounds, linked to cancers and fertility problems. They earned the nickname because they break down slowly and can accumulate in the body. They turn up in drinking water, nonstick cookware, food and drink packaging, and cosmetics.
Veronica Vieira, the study's corresponding author and a UCI professor of environmental and occupational health, said that measuring PFAS directly at birth brings researchers closer to knowing what babies are exposed to from the start. By capturing a critical window of development, she said, the work gives a clearer picture of how environmental contaminants may contribute to childhood cancer risk. The motivation is partly historical: the study notes that childhood cancer rates have risen in recent decades in industrialized countries, including the United States, which hints at environmental factors. The same team's earlier work tied elevated PFOA and PFOS to other childhood cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia and Wilms tumor.
The exposure pattern also carried a social signature. Children whose parents were older, born in the U.S., more educated and covered by private insurance had higher PFOS levels. Vieira explained that forever chemicals are common in nonessential or pricier products, such as Scotchgard, weather-resistant clothing and makeup, so high levels can serve as an indirect measure of socioeconomic status.
Independent voices urged restraint. Rena Jones, a National Institutes of Health researcher who studies environmental contaminants and was not involved, said the findings should be interpreted cautiously because the study was confined to Los Angeles County and had a small sample. Still, she said, it adds to growing evidence that PFAS exposure during pregnancy may contribute to acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
There is some encouraging news. Children born later in the study period had lower PFAS levels, which suggests some of the more persistent chemicals have been phased out of production. Vieira said they are slowly degrading in the environment and being excreted, and that drinking filtered water is an easy way to cut exposure further.
The team also identified 26 additional PFAS, including compounds that have not been well studied, and Vieira said it is unclear how toxic they are. Jones said the findings point to the need for larger studies covering a broader range of PFAS, including newer compounds.
Citações Notáveis
The study adds to growing evidence that PFAS exposure during pregnancy may contribute to acute lymphoblastic leukemia, but findings should be interpreted cautiously.— Rena Jones, National Institutes of Health researcher not involved in the study
Directly measuring PFAS present at birth moves us closer to understanding what babies are exposed to from the very start.— Veronica Vieira, UC Irvine professor and corresponding author
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