It is the first time that research has been done into exactly which biological processes are changed by exposure to PFAS.
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A team of scientists has been able to demonstrate for the first time exactly which biological processes are changed by the presence of “forever chemicals” in the blood of children and young people.
PFAS, or poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances in scientific terms, can hardly be broken down in nature and are therefore also referred to as ‘forever chemicals’. As a result, these harmful substances continue to accumulate in the environment or in human tissue when they enter the body.
All adolescents and children studied had a mixture of different PFAS in their blood.
Exposure to this cocktail of synthetic chemicals can alter several critical biological processes in children and young adults. Scientists at the University of Southern California have discovered this. The disruption of these processes can lead to an increased risk of developmental disorders, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases and various types of cancer.
The researchers focused their study on children and adolescents because they go through crucial developmental stages that make them more susceptible to the negative health effects of exposure to PFAS. It is also a period of life when some serious diseases, manifested only in adults, are already taking root.
It was previously known that PFAS increase the risk of various types of diseases, but this study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives,
According to the researchers, this could provide important insights for policymakers because most people have a mixture of the chemicals in their blood.
“We found that exposure to a combination of PFAS not only disrupts the metabolism of fats and amino acids, but also alters thyroid hormone function,” said Jesse Goodrich, the study’s lead author.
PFAS in all blood samples
The blood samples examined from 312 adolescents and 137 children in America showed that they all had a mixture of different common PFAS in their blood.
“We’re just now really beginning to understand the effects of these chemicals on human health.”
In addition, the team also looked at thousands of naturally occurring chemicals in the blood and identified how exposure to PFAS affected each of these naturally occurring chemicals. This information helped the researchers determine how biological processes in the body change due to exposure to PFAS.
For example, they saw that there is an effect on thyroid hormone function, which plays a crucial role in growth and metabolism.
Phase out
PFAS are man-made and are used in a wide variety of consumer and industrial products, such as waterproof clothing and food packaging.
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Some manufacturers have now phased out the use of individual PFAS, but the authors of this study conclude that it may be more important to regulate PFAS as a class of chemicals.
“We’re just now really beginning to understand the effects of these chemicals on human health,” said Leda Chatzi, professor of Public Health Sciences and co-author of the study. “While current interventions have focused on phasing out the use of individual PFAS, such as PFOS and PFOA, this study shows why the focus should be on reducing exposure to all PFAS chemicals.”
