How common PFAS chemicals and metals may affect children's immune development
Influence of Exposure to a Mixture of PFAS and Metals on the developing immune system
This project looks at whether prenatal and early-childhood exposure to PFAS chemicals and metals changes immune responses in babies and children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11126816 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will measure PFAS and metal levels in pregnant people and young children and follow the children's immune development over time. They will examine antibody responses to routine childhood vaccines and other immune markers to see if chemical mixtures alter immune function. The team focuses on real-world mixtures of chemicals rather than single exposures and combines exposure measurements with laboratory immune tests. The work uses birth-cohort data and lab analyses to link early-life exposure to later immune outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are pregnant people and their children or young children with available exposure or blood samples who can be followed for vaccine and immune measurements.
Not a fit: People without early-life exposure data, biospecimens, or not enrolled in the study cohorts are unlikely to directly participate or benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify why some children have weaker vaccine responses and support actions to reduce harmful early-life chemical exposures that affect immunity.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked PFAS or single metals to reduced vaccine responses, but research on joint effects of PFAS-and-metal mixtures is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Berkeley, United States
- University of California Berkeley — Berkeley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cardenas, Andres — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Cardenas, Andres
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.