Early-life PFAS exposure and children's immune and metabolic health
Critical effects associated with developmental PFAS exposure profiles
This project looks at whether PFAS chemicals from before birth and early childhood are linked to immune problems and metabolic issues like excess weight or prediabetes in kids and teens.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rhode Island NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kingston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11123458 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would hear how researchers link PFAS measured during pregnancy, at birth, and in childhood to later health. They use two Faroe Islands birth cohorts of over 1,000 children with blood samples taken in pregnancy, cord blood, and at 18 months, 5, and 9 years. Health checks include vaccine antibody responses, infection histories, body fat and bone scans (DXA), blood lipids, and markers like insulin-like growth factor-1 measured up to ages 5 and 14. The team will look for times when exposure matters most and test whether common blood biomarkers could signal future immune or metabolic problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children with prenatal or early-childhood PFAS exposure and families who can provide or link to past exposure measurements and follow-up health data through childhood and adolescence.
Not a fit: Adults without early-life exposure data or people seeking immediate treatment for diabetes or immune disease are unlikely to get direct clinical benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could pinpoint when PFAS exposure is most harmful and suggest biomarkers to help prevent or detect immune and metabolic problems earlier.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has reported links between PFAS and immune or metabolic changes, but results have been inconsistent, so this project aims to clarify timing and useful biomarkers.
Where this research is happening
Kingston, United States
- University of Rhode Island — Kingston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Grandjean, Philippe Adam — University of Rhode Island
- Study coordinator: Grandjean, Philippe Adam
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.