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Hello {{First Name|there}},
PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” are usually discussed as environmental contaminants found in nonstick cookware, food packaging, and industrial products.
These compounds are now detectable in the blood of nearly all Americans. Their resistance to breakdown has led to widespread accumulation in water, soil, wildlife, and human tissues.
This week, we’ll look at a different question:
→ Does PFAS effect our vascular systems?
Types of PFAS Compounds
Emerging research suggests some PFAS may interact with endothelial function, inflammation, and angiogenesis.
PFAS and the Vascular System
Several key questions are now emerging:
Could chronic PFAS exposure impair normal vascular repair?
Does endothelial dysfunction contribute to delayed wound healing?
Are retinal microvascular tissues particularly vulnerable?
Could PFAS-driven inflammation disrupt the balance between healthy and pathological angiogenesis?
Importantly, much of the current evidence remains preclinical or observational. Still, the broader pattern is becoming harder to ignore:
→ Environmental exposures once considered biologically inert may interact directly with pathways involved in vascular remodeling and angiogenesis.
During pregnancy, why are researchers studying PFAS effects on the placenta?
Current Evidence
During pregnancy, the placenta depends heavily on angiogenesis and endothelial signaling, researchers are increasingly using pregnancy as a model for understanding how environmental exposures may affect human vascular biology.
A 2025 pregnancy cohort study found certain PFAS exposures were associated with measurable changes in placental vascular architecture, including altered vessel expansion and remodeling patterns.
Specifically, they found certain exposures were associated with a 32.5% increase in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels. This suggests, PFAS may interact with biologic systems far more actively than once assumed.
→ For clinicians and researchers in ophthalmology, wound healing, oncology, and vascular biology, PFAS may represent an emerging frontier in environmental health research.
Check out this weeks youtube video to see our mascot Dr. Angio bringing complex health and research topics to life.
Best wishes,
- The Angiogenesis Foundation
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