--- title: "Veterans have higher levels of ‘forever chemicals’ in their blood than civilians, new study finds" description: "The research found that veterans 20 to 39 had the highest concentration of PFAS chemicals compared to their non-veteran counterparts." date: "2026-09-21" modified: "2026-09-21" authors: - name: "Nicholas Slayton" job_title: "Contributing Editor" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/nicholas-slayton.md" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/pfas-veterans-concentration-study-forever-chemicals/" categories: - "Field Guide" - "News" - "Veterans" --- # Veterans have higher levels of ‘forever chemicals’ in their blood than civilians, new study finds ![210410-N-VM474-3011 ATLANTIC OCEAN (April 10, 2021) Damage Control Fireman Chandler Sanders assists Fireman Britney Chamaidansoria as she discharges an aqueous film forming foam firefighting hose on the flight deck of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) April 10, 2021. Kearsarge, homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, is underway to certify for operations at sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Gwyneth Vandevender)]() *Sailors discharge aqueous film forming foam on the flight deck of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge April 10, 2021. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Gwyneth Vandevender.* A large swath of veterans has a higher concentration of “forever chemicals” in their blood than non-veterans, according to a new peer-reviewed [study]() published last week. That high concentration is more prevalent in veterans below the age of 40. The study, conducted by researchers at Brown University and Harvard University and [published]() in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, compared levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, or "forever chemicals," in veterans' blood with civilians', using federal health data. PFAS are synthetic chemicals used in cookware as well as weapons or firefighting foams and other materials and equipment. More than 10,000 compounds exist. The study used PFAS blood serum results from surveys done between 2003 and 2018. Of the more than 22 million veterans who participated in the study, 58% were found to have higher levels of PFAS than the threshold set by the U.S. National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. The biggest concentration was found in veterans between the ages of 20 and 39, where the concentrations of the chemicals were 13% to 24% higher than their non-veteran peers in the same age range. The study noted some reasons for that higher concentration among younger veterans — that younger veterans are likely to have more recent exposure, and that PFAS concentrations can decrease with age. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, PFAS exposure can be associated with an increased risk of cancers, immune system problems, and increased risk of asthma or thyroid disease, among other health issues. The Department of Veterans Affairs notes that overall evidence is inconclusive and more research is needed to better see the link between exposure to the chemicals and adverse health impacts. ![U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Collier, left, 801st Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers Training Squadron fire protection cadre, and Airman 1st Class Jaremy Wright, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron fire protection firefighter, extinguish a controlled fire during a Fluorine-Free Foam training exercise within the Silver Flag burn pit at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, April 9, 2024. The chemical differences in the new foam caused significant changes in firefighting techniques with the transition. Rather than firefighters employing a “rainfall” technique to deploy foam and water through a hose at an arching angle, they now shoot directly at the base of the fire. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zeeshan Naeem)]() *Airmen extinguish a controlled fire during a Fluorine-Free Foam training exercise within the Silver Flag burn pit at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, April 9, 2024. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zeeshan Naeem.* The chemicals gained their "forever" nickname due to the extremely slow rate at which they break down. Although found around the world, they have been found on military bases, often as a result of their use in firefighting foams used on installations. Those foams are a source of contamination of groundwater on bases, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. “If you’re a male veteran between the ages of 20 and 39, it would be advisable to speak to a physician about getting tested for PFAS levels,” the study’s lead author Christian Hoover, a fellow at Brown’s School of Public Health, said in a release on the findings. “It’s also a good idea for people in this category to have a conversation about the health conditions associated with elevated PFAS levels, to see if screening for those conditions makes sense.” Concerns over the impact of PFAS on active-duty troops’ and veterans' health has been a bipartisan issue, with [multiple pieces of legislation]() introduced — but not passed — to try and add treatment to the chemicals to service-connected disability coverage at the VA. Last year, the Government Accountability Office [found]() that the Department of Defense has spent more than $2 billion since 2017 on inspections and cleanup at more than 700 installations with known or suspected PFAS releases. ## Author Nicholas Slayton is a contributing editor for Task & Purpose, covering conflict for over 12 years, from the Arab Spring to the war in Ukraine. His previous reporting can be found on the non-profit Aslan Media, The Atlantic, Al Jazeera, The New Republic, The American Prospect, Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, and the Los Angeles Downtown News. You can reach him at nicholas@taskandpurpose.com or find him on Twitter @NSlayton and Bluesky at @nslayton.bsky.social. ### Author social links [Twitter]()