New Study Links 'Forever Chemical' to Fetal Facial Abnormalities

Researchers uncover molecular mechanism behind how PFDA, a type of PFAS, disrupts retinoic acid and causes craniofacial defects.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 6:12am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A new study published in ACS Chemical Research in Toxicology has found that exposure to the 'forever chemical' perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) can lead to severe craniofacial abnormalities in developing fetuses. Researchers discovered that PFDA blocks a key enzyme responsible for breaking down excess retinoic acid, causing its levels to rise too high and disrupt normal facial development.

Why it matters

PFAS chemicals are ubiquitous in the environment and many people are exposed to small amounts through everyday life. However, higher exposures can occur through contaminated water, living near manufacturing sites, or certain occupations like firefighting and ski waxing. Understanding the specific health risks of different PFAS compounds is crucial to protecting vulnerable populations like pregnant women and developing fetuses.

The details

The study, led by researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz, tested 139 commonly found PFAS and identified PFDA as the most toxic during fetal craniofacial development. They found that even tiny amounts of PFDA were enough to cause visible facial changes, with the risk increasing by 10% at extremely low exposure levels. The researchers discovered that PFDA blocks the CYP26A1 enzyme, which is responsible for breaking down excess retinoic acid, a molecule essential for shaping the face and head during early pregnancy. PFDA also suppresses the genes that produce this enzyme, delivering a 'double hit' that disrupts the regulation of retinoic acid levels.

  • The research was published today in ACS Chemical Research in Toxicology.

The players

Jed Lampe

PhD, associate professor at University of Colorado Anschutz Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and the senior author of the study.

Michaela Hvizdak

The paper's first author.

Sylvie Kandel

A co-author of the study.

University of Colorado Anschutz

A world-class academic medical campus leading transformative advances in science, medicine, education and patient care.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Most people are exposed to small amounts of PFAS in everyday life but higher exposure can occur through contaminated water, living near manufacturing sites or certain jobs like firefighting and ski waxing, which is why it's so important to understand the chemicals better.”

— Jed Lampe, PhD, associate professor at University of Colorado Anschutz Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

“This finding moves us beyond association by providing a clear explanation for how PFDA can interfere with fetal development. It's a critical step toward understanding a vast and complex class of environmental chemicals.”

— Jed Lampe, PhD, associate professor at University of Colorado Anschutz Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

What’s next

The researchers hope the research can open the door to practical interventions for people with higher PFAS exposure, such as firefighters and ski wax technicians. This could include looking into how to reduce exposure levels and whether strategies can be developed to lower PFDA during pregnancy to protect fetal development.

The takeaway

This study provides a critical molecular explanation for how certain PFAS chemicals, specifically PFDA, can disrupt fetal development and lead to severe craniofacial abnormalities. Understanding the specific health risks of different PFAS compounds is an important step in protecting vulnerable populations from these ubiquitous 'forever chemicals'.