By Elodie Vaz | Published on March 26, 2026 | 4 min read
Adolescence
is a critical period for building bone mass. It is during this window that
optimal bone mineral density is established, shaping future risk of fractures
and osteoporosis. Any disruption to this process may therefore have long-term
consequences. Among suspected environmental factors, per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances (PFAS), often referred to as “forever chemicals,” are raising
increasing concern due to their persistence in the body and widespread presence
in the environment.
A study
published on March 17 in the Journal of the Endocrine Society examined
the impact of early-life exposure to PFAS on bone health during adolescence.
The objective was to determine whether these compounds, known to disrupt
various biological processes, could also influence bone density at a key stage
of development.
As
Professor Jessie P. Buckley stated in a press release: “Adolescence is a
critical period for building a strong skeleton, and achieving optimal bone mass
during this time can reduce the risk of fractures and osteoporosis throughout
life.”
From
birth to adolescence
Researchers analyzed data from 218 adolescents enrolled in a prospective
mother–child cohort. Blood concentrations of PFAS were measured at multiple
time points: at birth, and then at ages 3, 8, and 12. Bone density was assessed
at age 12, particularly at the forearm.
This
longitudinal approach allows for a better understanding of delayed effects and
windows of vulnerability, linking early exposures to outcomes observed years
later.
Differential
associations by compound and timing
Results showed an association between higher concentrations of
perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and lower bone density at the forearm in
adolescents. For other PFAS, observed relationships varied depending on the
timing of exposure.
Another
notable finding concerns sex differences. Associations between PFAS exposure
and lower bone density were more pronounced in girls than in boys, suggesting
possible increased vulnerability
A
growing body of concerning evidence
These findings add to a growing body of research highlighting the long-term
health effects of PFAS. “Our findings suggest that reducing PFAS exposure
during key developmental periods may support better lifelong bone health,”
emphasized Jessie P. Buckley.
“They also
add to increasing evidence that PFAS exposure in early childhood can have
long-term health consequences, underscoring the importance of efforts to reduce
contamination in drinking water and consumer products,” she added.
Toward
targeted environmental prevention
Although this study does not establish a definitive causal relationship, it
strengthens the hypothesis that early environmental exposures can influence
bone health trajectories. It also highlights the importance of identifying
critical windows of vulnerability to better guide prevention strategies.
In the
longer term, this work supports a more integrated approach to bone health—one
that includes not only nutritional and hormonal factors but also chemical
exposures. Given the widespread presence of PFAS, the issue now extends beyond
individual risk to a broader public health concern.
Read
next: Ultra-processed foods under scrutiny
for their effects on bone health
About the Author – Elodie Vaz
Health journalist, CFPJ graduate (2023).
Élodie explores the marks diseases leave on bodies and, more broadly, on
human life. A registered nurse since 2010, she spent twelve years at patients’
bedsides before exchanging her stethoscope for a notebook. She now investigates
the links between environment and health, convinced that the vitality of life
cannot be reduced to that of humans alone.
