Toxic chemicals found in cookware, makeup and personal care products may be making women infertile, according to a new study released today.

Scientists have warned for years about the dangers of perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFASs.

These “forever chemicals” — so called because they can linger in the environment for thousands of years — have been linked to everything from cancer to infertility.

Recent evidence from researchers in America and Singapore suggests that the effect of PFAS on fertility could be even greater than suspected.

They found that women with various types of PFAS in their blood who were trying to conceive had up to a 40% lower chance of getting pregnant and giving birth to a live baby.

Scientists stress that the results should serve as a warning to women who want to have a child to be especially careful

Publishing the findings in the journal Science of The Total Environment, author Dr Nathan Cohen said the study should serve as a wake-up call.

“PFAS can disrupt reproductive hormones and has been linked to delayed onset of puberty and increased risks for endometriosis as well as polycystic ovary syndrome in previous studies,” he said.

“What the study adds is that PFAS can also reduce fertility in women who are generally healthy and trying to conceive naturally,” he added.