on PinterestResearch has found that “forever chemicals” may lead to faster aging in middle-aged men.
on PinterestResearch has found that “forever chemicals” may lead to faster aging in middle-aged men. Image Credit: Gabriel Mello/Getty Images
- A new study suggests that certain “forever chemicals” may quietly accelerate biological aging at the cellular level.
- Researchers found that higher levels of specific PFAS were linked to several years of accelerated aging, especially among middle-aged men.
- The findings raise new concerns about long-term health risks, given the widespread PFAS exposure in the United States.
“Forever chemicals” are linked to accelerated aging at the cellular level, particularly among middle-aged men, a new study suggests.
The findings add to growing concerns about widespread exposure to PFAS chemicals.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic compounds commonly known as “forever chemicals” that are found in a wide range of consumer and industrial products, as well as nearly half of United States’ drinking water.
PFAS are used in products such as nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, stain-resistant fabrics, and some firefighting foams. This is because they repel water, oil, and heat, making materials more durable and resistant to damage. The nickname reflects the fact that these chemicals break down very slowly and can linger for years in the environment and in human bodies.
Prior research has linked “forever chemicals” to numerous adverse health outcomes, including elevated cholesterol levels, childhood obesity, and an increased risk of certain cancers.
Now, new evidence suggests they are also linked to signs of accelerated epigenetic aging, according to a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Aging.
Epigenetic aging estimates biological age at a cellular level based on chemical markers found on DNA. Researchers also found that specific PFAS compounds affected individuals differently. While the association was present across the broader study population, it was most pronounced among middle-aged men.
“While the study does not prove causation, it suggests that PFAS exposure may be linked to molecular changes related to aging and long-term health risk,” Xiangwei Li, PhD, professor of epidemiology at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and senior author of the research, told Healthline.
While most research on forever chemicals has focused on two compounds, PFOS and PFOA, those chemicals are now considered “legacy” PFAS because they were largely phased out in the United States in the early 2000s.
Researchers are now shifting their focus to other PFAS compounds that, like legacy chemicals, are also persistent in the environment and potentially toxic, but less well studied. This study examined two additional PFAS compounds: perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSA).
The findings track with prior research in this area, said Andres Cardenas, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology and population health at Stanford University. Cardenas wasn’t involved in the research.
“Our group looked at exactly this data and question before in 2025. Similarly, we found strong evidence that PFNA accelerated multiple epigenetic clocks in males,” he said.
Forever chemicals add years to epigenetic ‘clocks’
Li and his team analyzed data from 326 US adults ages 50 and older who participated in the 1999-2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The average age of the cohort
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