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Page 10 of 13 Bogdan et al. J Environ Expo Assess 2024;3:14 https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/jeea.2024.08

their water had a serum PFOS concentration of 1.36 ng/mL, nearly reaching the peak concentration at 2
months.

This risk assessment is consistent with previous studies demonstrating that maternal serum PFAS levels
have a large impact on the infant’s serum level through placental transfer [11,15-17] . For an infant with a mean
formula-fed fluid intake rate whose mother’s serum PFOS concentration was the 2017-2018 NHANES
median, the peak serum PFOS concentration occurred at birth even while drinking formula contaminated
with PFOS at 8.9 ng/L for the entire first year, and additional water contamination at EPA’s PFOS MCL
results in only a very slightly higher peak serum PFOS level soon after birth before decreasing [Table 4].

CONCLUSIONS
Overall, this study suggests that powdered infant formula is likely not a significant source of exposure to
PFAS for infants. Across 17 types of powdered infant formulas and 10 PFAS tested, only a single PFAS was
detected above the LOQ in a single infant formula. It is possible that LOQs will decrease in the future due to
method improvements, and future studies could determine if PFAS contamination exists in infant formula
at lower levels. We also note that technical limitations prevented the analysis of three PFAS originally
included in this study (PFBA, PFPeA, PFDoA), and that this study focused on perfluorinated carboxylic and
sulfonic acids. Other classes of PFAS exist, such as perfluoroether carboxylic and sulfonic acids (PFECAs
and PFESAs); PFECAs and PFESAs were often used as replacements for perfluorinated PFAS and should be
further investigated in both breastmilk and infant formula. It is also possible that future RfSCs will continue
to decrease as more epidemiological and toxicokinetic data become available that recontextualize our
understanding of PFAS risk.

While this study indicates that powdered infant formula likely does not constitute a major exposure
pathway, infants remain one of the most highly exposed and most sensitive populations to PFAS; many
other sources of PFAS exposure remain and must be addressed. A large fraction of infant exposure can
[37]
come from maternal transfer. NHANES data indicate that almost all Americans have PFAS in their blood
at levels above the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s serum guidelines for
[38]
potential adverse effects . The female median serum PFOS concentration used as a proxy for maternal
serum in this study is above MDH’s 2024 RfSC, indicating potential health concerns for both mother and
infant alike.

One of the best solutions for reducing PFAS exposures is to prevent them from entering the environment in
the first place by banning their manufacture and nonessential uses in products. “Turning off the PFAS tap”
is a major victory for public health, and in 2023, the Minnesota state legislature passed Amara’s Law, which,
among other things, prohibits the sale or distribution of many products with intentionally added PFAS .
[39]
However, a patchwork of state laws is insufficient to meet the scale of the problem. Better testing methods
and broader testing requirements must be enacted to fully define the scope of PFAS exposures from
products. Federal regulation and international agreement are necessary to drastically cut PFAS emissions or
enact outright PFAS bans on nonessential uses.

Furthermore, because of their environmental persistence, PFAS released into the environment long ago
remain a source of ongoing human exposure. MDH and other Minnesota state agencies have been working
with the people and communities of Minnesota on PFAS for decades. MDH has created fact sheets on many
topics related to PFAS, including human health and reducing exposures, to help people take personal action
to protect themselves and their families. More information is available on MDH’s website . In brief, women
[3]
who are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant can reduce their own exposures and potential health