‘Forever Chemical’ Linked to Fetal Facial Abnormalities–Scientists Now Know Why

For the first time, researchers identified the precise biological mechanism behind the damage.

Illustration by The Epoch Times, Shutterstock

A widely used industrial chemical found in nonstick pans, raincoats, and fast-food wrappers may be subtly distorting the faces of fetuses in ways that scientists are only now beginning to unravel.

Researchers have identified perfluorodecanoic acid or PFDA—a type of PFAS “forever chemical”—as a probable disruptor of early facial formation in developing embryos. Notably, the study identifies the precise biological pathway responsible, transforming a previously suspected link into a more direct cause-and-effect relationship.

What Are PFAS?

“Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of over 9,000 synthetic chemicals defined by their extreme durability and resistance to heat, water, and oil,” Amelia Tan Suet May, an environmental microbiotechnologist specializing in microplastics and bioplastics, a postdoctoral researcher at Chang Gung University in Taiwan, and not involved in the study, told The Epoch Times.